Adam /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} worked as a salesman 8 to 6, leaving him little time to learn. "I was asked to help run the night Kollel in our shul from 8-11," Adam said to his wife. "They'll also pay. What do you say?"
"It's not going to be easy for the family, but it's a great opportunity to learn," his wife responded. "We could also use the additional income."
Adam accepted the offer. After a full day's work, he had supper and headed out again. By the time he returned home, took care of some necessary paperwork, showered and went to sleep, it was almost 1:00 AM. "Five hours of sleep," he mused, as he set the alarm for 6:00 AM.
As the weeks wore on, it became harder to get up. The alarm rang and Adam hit the snooze button half asleep. "Adam, you've got to get up," his wife roused him.
Adam rubbed his eyes and dragged himself out of bed. After davening, he had a double-strength cup of coffee, and headed out to work. When Adam arrived, his boss called him in. "Adam, there have been errors in your sales reports recently," he said. "You also seem less energetic and enthusiastic. Is everything OK?"
"I'm OK," said Adam, "but I've mentioned to you that I started running a night learning program to supplement our income. I'm going on very little sleep."
"I understand that you need to supplement your income and want to learn," said the boss, "but it's beginning to affect your work. I value your contribution to our business, but you must make your job a priority and give it your all."
"But you've known about the night program for a while," said Adam, "and you never objected."
"Still, if the learning program leaves you too tired to function properly," said the boss, "you have to consider dropping it. It's unfair to us."
Adam went to consult with Rabbi Tzedek.
"I started running a night Kollel to supplement my income, but the late hours are beginning to detract from my work," said Adam. "Can I continue with the Kollel?"
Rabbi Tzedek answered: "You are not allowed to take on additional responsibilities if it detracts from your ability to function properly at your primary work."
Rabbi Tzedek pulled a volume of Rambam from the bookshelf. "Here, read this passage in the end of Hilchos Sechirus (13:6-7)," he said to Adam. "It's cited by the Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 337:19-20) and sets forth the required work ethic."
A worker is not allowed to do his own work at night and hire himself out during the day … He should not starve and afflict himself … because this is stealing from the work of the employer, since his strength will be weakened and his mind will be dulled and he will not work energetically.
Just as the employer is warned not to steal the wages of a poor laborer and should not withhold them, so, too, the poor [employee] is warned not to steal the work of the employer and waste time a little here and a little there, spending the whole day unproductively, but must be meticulous with his time.
"Wow!" commented Adam. "That's quite a work ethic!"
"Yes," responded Rabbi Tzedek. "The employer pays the employee for the time and effort that he invests in his work. Therefore, when the employee wastes time or behaves in a way that makes him work inefficiently, he is taking wages unfairly and cheating the employer.
"The details of the work obligation depend on what is customary in that time and place. (331:1) If it is customary to allow workers a short call home during the course of the day, to daven mincha , or to string together a number of part-time jobs, that is acceptable. However, the employee should be careful not to overextend this allowance and make numerous calls, spend time to handle personal needs during work hours, or spread himself thinly so that he cannot properly fulfill his responsibilities."
"But what about the opportunity to learn extra Torah?" asked Adam.
"Learning Torah is of utmost importance and you should continue learning whenever possible," replied Rabbi Tzedek. "However, working with integrity is also part of upholding Torah, as the Rambam concludes: He must work with all his energy, as the righteous Yaakov said: 'I worked for your father with all my energy.' Therefore, he received reward [for] this also in this world, as it says: 'The man was very, very prosperous.'"