FAQs about secondary employment

Who is affected by the regulations on secondary employment?

Who do the regulations on secondary employment apply to?

The regulations apply to all employees and for some positions there is a special obligation to report secondary employment.

Who needs to report secondary employment?

I am not a member of the teaching staff. Do I need to report secondary employment?

In general, no, unless your manager has specifically asked you to report it. If you have secondary employment and are uncertain if it may be considered to damage credibility, you are to consult with your manager and report the secondary employment. 

I am not a member of the teaching staff or a manager with a special obligation to report secondary employment. May I still report my secondary employment?

All employees may report secondary employment, and if you are a manager with budget responsibilities or responsible for admissions or procurement, for example, you should report, even though you have no obligation to do so.

My secondary employment corresponds to just five (5) hours per year. Do I need to report it?

Yes, if you are a member of the teaching staff. Even though the secondary employment is very minor in extent it may be considered to damage credibility, interfere with work duties or represent competition.

Positions with other employers

I have a combined appointment at the Faculty of Medicine and Region Skåne. Do I need to report the appointment at Region Skåne as secondary employment?

The appointment that is combined with an appointment at Region Skåne does not need to be reported, as it constitutes a precondition for the appointment at the University. You do, however, have an obligation to report that you have read the information on your obligation to report and to report any other secondary employment you have.

I have an appointment of limited scope at another university. Is this considered to be secondary employment that represents competition? 

No, but it is secondary employment that may be considered to interfere with work duties and is therefore to be reported.

I have been offered an assignment at an educational organisation. Is this considered to be secondary employment that represents competition? 

Yes, if the university conducts or is considered to conduct commissioned education within the same or a similar area, the secondary employment may be considered to represent competition.

I have an appointment at Lund University and an appointment at Region Skåne. Could the assessments from these organisations differ? Is there any coordination between these organisations?

The assessments may very well differ. Each manager assesses secondary employment in relation to the activities, responsibilities, position/role and duties etc. Therefore, coordination is not possible.

Do visiting professors and adjunct teaching staff need to report their main employment outside the University as secondary employment? 

Having another position is inherent to a visiting professorship or an adjunct teaching position, as this is a condition for such appointments. Before these appointments, it is important for Lund University to ascertain that the candidate’s other employment does not entail a risk of damage to the University’s credibility. Once this assessment has been made, the visiting professor/adjunct lecturer does not need to report their work outside Lund University as secondary employment. Other than that, all staff are bound by Lund University’s regulations to report other employment/secondary employment annually, or to certify that they do not have any other employment/secondary employment. 

Part-time employment

My appointment is just 20% of full-time and my main occupation is outside the University. Do I need to report the secondary employment?

Yes, if you are a member of the teaching staff. If you are a member of the non-academic staff, you only need to report if your manager specifically requests it. 

Elected office and similar

I serve in an elected office that is to some extent within the scope of my employment. Do I need to report it?

If your manager does not know that you have the assignment or if it is not entered in your duties plan, you should report the secondary employment.

Sometimes, I am an external expert, external reviewer or a member of an examining committee. Is this secondary employment? And, if I receive a fee for it, does this then change the assessment? 

Assignments that may be said to be within the scope of employment, regardless of whether or not a small fee is paid, are not considered to be secondary employment. 

I am a committee member in a tenant-owners association. Do I need to report it? 

Yes, if you are a member of the teaching staff. 

Can prohibited secondary employment be allowed? 

I wonder if secondary employment that has been deemed prohibited can be allowed? 

A manager could permit secondary employment that otherwise interferes with work duties if it is deemed to be of importance to Lund University and that together you plan when the secondary employment is to be carried out, so that work at the University does not suffer.

Ownership interests in business 

I own shares in a development company that has a certain connection with activities at Lund University. I do not consider it as secondary employment. Is it to be reported in another way?

There is no general rule against public sector officials owning shares or other ownership participations in business enterprises or in any other way having ownership interests in businesses. Shareholdings may, however, entail a risk of conflict of interest and, for example, in combination with a board position or assignment at the company would also be deemed as secondary employment considered to damage credibility.

Conflict of interest

Note that as an employee, you always have an obligation to report any potential conflict of interest for each instance of case management or statement of position and that you are not to participate at all in processing or decisions in such cases.