Employment
How to Ask Your Employer for Approval for a Side Project (With Email Template)
A step-by-step way to ask your manager or HR for approval to do outside work, what to include, how to answer their concerns, and a ready-to-use email template.
By the Giinger team · Updated · 4 min read
Many employment contracts in Singapore say you need approval before taking on outside work. A lot of people skip this step because they fear the answer.
That is a mistake. A written approval is the best protection you can have. If something goes wrong later, you can show that you were open and that your employer agreed.
This guide shows you how to ask, and gives you an email you can adapt.
Step 1: Find the rule you are working under
Before you write anything, read:
- The outside employment or exclusivity clause in your contract.
- The conflict of interest policy.
- Any outside business interest declaration form in the employee handbook or intranet.
If there is a form, use it. Your email can still go along with it.
If you are a foreigner on a work pass, remember that employer approval is only one part. Your work pass conditions set separate rules. See our guide on having a side business while employed in Singapore.
Step 2: Prepare the answers to their real questions
Your employer wants to know four things:
- Does it compete with us? Same clients, same product, same market?
- Will it affect your job? Time, energy, availability.
- Will you use our resources? Laptop, software licences, data, office.
- Does it create a risk for us? Reputation, confidentiality, IP.
Answer all four before they ask. That is what makes approval easy.
Step 3: Describe the project in neutral terms
Keep it factual and short:
- Type of work: "Mobile app development for small retail businesses."
- Type of clients: "Small businesses outside the financial sector."
- Time: "About six hours a week, evenings and weekends only."
- Structure: "Contracted through a separate business. I will not represent the company."
Avoid big claims about growth. Your employer may read "I want to scale this" as "I am about to leave."
Step 4: Offer clear commitments
Commitments show maturity. Common ones:
- I will only work outside office hours.
- I will use my own equipment and accounts.
- I will not serve the company's clients or competitors.
- I will not use any confidential information or company code.
- I will tell you if anything changes, such as a new type of client.
The email template
Copy this and adapt it to your situation.
Subject: Request for approval: outside project
Hi [Manager's name],
Under section [X] of my employment contract, I would like to request approval for an outside project.
What it is: I build [type of work] for [type of client], for example [one neutral example].
Time: About [number] hours per week, only in the evenings and on weekends. It will not affect my availability or performance here.
No conflict: The clients are not competitors or clients of [Company], and the work is not in our line of business.
Separation: I will use my own equipment and accounts, and I will not use any [Company] information, code or contacts.
Structure: The work is contracted through a separate business, under written contracts. I will not represent [Company] in any way.
I am happy to fill in any declaration form or discuss conditions. I will let you know if anything changes.
Thank you, [Your name]
Save the reply. If approval comes with conditions, write them down and follow them.
Step 5: Handle the follow-up questions
Typical follow-ups and good answers:
- "Who are the clients?" Give the industry and size. Offer names if the policy requires it.
- "How much do you earn from it?" You can say it is a small project. Revenue is not usually needed to judge a conflict.
- "What about IP?" Confirm that the work is unrelated to the company's products and that nothing is created on company time or equipment.
- "Will you leave?" Be honest. If it is a side project, say so.
What if the answer is no
Ask what the specific concern is. Often the answer is one of these:
- A specific client is a problem. Drop that client.
- The sector is too close. Adjust the type of work.
- Timing. Some employers block outside work during probation. Ask again later.
If the answer stays no and your contract requires approval, do not go ahead in secret. Discipline over side jobs is real: in one survey, 22% of HR leaders said they had disciplined someone over a side gig in the past year.
After approval: set up the business side
Approval is step one. Then you need contracts, invoices, a way to collect payment and clean tax records.
You can do it yourself, open a company, or use a contracting partner. We compare the options in sole proprietorship vs Pte Ltd vs a contracting partner.
If you would rather not run the paperwork, Giinger can sign with your client, invoice and pay you every month, under written contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell my employer about my side project?
If your contract or company policy requires approval for outside work, yes, and in writing. Even when it does not, telling your employer early often protects you better than keeping it hidden, especially if your side work is in a related field.
Who should I ask, my manager or HR?
Follow the process in your employee handbook. Many companies have a conflict of interest or outside activity form that goes to HR or compliance. If there is no process, write to your direct manager and copy HR.
What if my employer says no?
Ask what the specific concern is and whether changes would solve it, such as avoiding certain clients or sectors. If the answer is still no, you will need to decide between pausing the project or changing jobs. Do not go ahead without approval if your contract requires it.
How much detail should I give about my side project?
Give enough for your employer to judge conflict of interest: the type of work, the type of client, the time involved, and confirmation that you will not use company time, equipment or information. You do not need to share your revenue.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, immigration or employment advice. Rules change; check the official sources linked above or a qualified adviser for your own situation.