All articles tagged with #overemployment
Some workers are secretly holding multiple full-time jobs within a standard 40-hour workweek, leveraging remote work and AI tools to earn over $1 million annually, raising questions about workplace ethics and the future of remote employment.
A millennial IT worker named Eric secretly took a second job to earn $300K annually, using his experience to detect other overemployed workers, but eventually stopped due to fears of being caught and ethical concerns, highlighting the rising trend and risks of job juggling in the remote work era.
Charles, a consumer product professional, earned over $300,000 in 2021 by secretly juggling multiple remote jobs. However, the job market for remote roles has declined, with companies shifting to in-person or hybrid models. Despite the challenges, Charles continues to manage two remote jobs to avoid commuting and maintain his income.
Adam, a security risk professional, doubled his income to over $170,000 by secretly juggling two remote full-time jobs, allowing him to pay off $50,000 of his $118,000 student loan debt and aims to clear the remaining $65,000 by the end of the year. He's part of a niche group of "overemployed" Americans using extra earnings to pay off debt and plan for early retirement, but being caught without approval could lead to termination. Adam advises overemployed workers to align work calendars, avoid taking on too much work, and use sick days when feeling overwhelmed. He plans to keep both jobs until his student loans are paid off and his net worth reaches $100,000, while pursuing additional cybersecurity certifications.
The pandemic has led to a rise in professionals secretly juggling multiple jobs, known as "overemployment," to increase their income and job security. Online communities of overemployed workers share tips and tricks for evading detection and maximizing their total compensation while minimizing their hours worked. These workers prioritize secrecy and frugality, adhering to the first rule of overemployment: you do not talk about overemployment. While some feel guilty about breaking the rules, many justify their actions by excelling at their jobs and prioritizing financial security. Overemployment represents a new social contract in an era where loyalty to a single employer is no longer rewarded, and employers themselves are increasingly hiring workers with multiple jobs.
A 22-year-old software engineer has been working two full-time remote jobs, earning a combined $144,000 last year without telling either employer. He uses five strategies to juggle both jobs and avoid suspicion, including overestimating task completion time and turning down projects. While holding two jobs at once doesn't violate federal or state laws, it could breach employment contracts and get people fired. The window to pull this off may be closing, as many companies are calling employees back to the office and listing fewer fully remote positions.
Remote workers are using AI tools like ChatGPT to secretly hold two or more full-time jobs, taking advantage of the normalization of remote work during the pandemic. These tools can dramatically reduce the time needed to complete tasks, enabling workers to do multiple jobs with time left to spare. While it's unclear how many workers are using AI tools for overemployment, it's clear that companies and investors will need to adjust to this new reality.