How do you make ends meet when you're a civil servant?

VDI: the perfect business to supplement your income

Door-to-door selling is a sector that is attracting more and more people looking for a complementary activity or additional income. The advantage? VDI status requires no qualifications or experience, so you can do something you really enjoy alongside your main job.

What's more, you choose the brand you work with, so you can be sure that you're working in a field that appeals to you. Although home-based selling can become a profession in its own right, not everyone wants to leave their traditional activity on a permanent or fixed-term contract or as a civil servant. Home selling is the perfect way to make ends meet!

See also: Supplementing your income and making ends meet

Can you be a VDI and earn extra money if you're a civil servant?

Although access to VDI status is not conditional on age or professional experience, it may depend on your current professional activity. This is the case for civil servants, who are subject to very strict rules on holding multiple jobs.

VDIs and full-time civil servants: it's impossible to combine them

Unfortunately, since 2016, full-time civil servants have not been able to work as home-based salespeople, as stipulated in the "Ethics" law:

"Civil servants shall carry out their entire professional activity on the tasks entrusted to them. They may not engage, in a professional capacity, in a private gainful activity of any kind whatsoever (...) [Article 25 septies de la loi n°83-634 du 13 juillet 1983]."

The purpose of this law is to enhance the public service and to demonstrate that civil servants are exemplary in the performance of their duties. It therefore prohibits all full-time civil servants from combining public employment with a gainful activity, so that they can devote themselves fully to their public duties.

Civil servants are also subject to regulations governing self-employment: they may not maintain their self-employed status for more than two years (or three years under certain conditions).

The civil service ethics commission is responsible for monitoring compliance with this law. It examines whether or not the private or combined activities that civil servants wish to pursue are compatible with the performance of their current duties.

VDI and part-time civil servant: combination possible!

If the ethics commission examines requests from civil servants for additional activities, it is because they are authorised in certain cases. Are you a part-time civil servant looking to supplement your income by selling from home? The good news is that part-time civil servants can combine home-based selling with public employment!

See also: How long can I work part-time?

However, there are several rules to bear in mind:

• Your part-time work must not exceed 70% of the time worked
• Your VDI activity must be compatible with your service obligations, without impacting on your public job
• You must request written approval from your line manager. This authority or your line manager may object at any time to your continuing to work as a VDI. Reasons may include internal organisational difficulties or service requirements.

Part-time civil servant: start home selling

Do you have the agreement of your hierarchy to have a complementary activity? Then you can start selling from home!

Read also: How do you supplement your income from home?

Elora offers you the chance to become a fashion consultant for a committed brand. Our team will support you throughout your career, and you'll benefit from a home sales training programme. Our very active community is available to give you advice and help you get your business off the ground.

Find out more about VDI status at Elora

How do I declare my VDI income to the Employment Office?