[Bostonian]

Our company employee handbook prohibits "outside engagements" without prior approval. Does your company handbook say anything about this?

[yetanotherdood]

I'm not sure what my employment contract states but I wonder if California Labor Code section 96 overrides things even if the contract says something like "explicit approval must be granted before you start business in X"

[troymc]

You must have signed an employment contract when you accepted your job offer, and you should have been given a copy. If not, just ask for a copy. You don't need to say why.