This story initially appeared on Enterprise Insider.
Lower than a yr into his first full-time job out of college, Jason, a 22-year-old software program engineer primarily based on the West Coast, determined he wished to earn some more money to complement his $75,000 wage.
Jason’s place was totally distant, and he advised Insider he was capable of get all his work achieved in solely 10 to fifteen hours per week — so he figured he had the time to do one thing else.
He thought of making an attempt out a facet hustle like rising microgreens, taking odd jobs posted on Craigslist, or doing freelance programming work, however stated he in the end determined to search for a second full-time or part-time job.
In November of 2021, he began a second full-time distant software program engineering position. Immediately, he stated he sometimes works 20 to 30 hours per week complete throughout the 2 jobs and earned a mixed $144,000 final yr, in keeping with paperwork seen by Insider.
And he hasn’t advised both employer he is double-dipping. Jason’s actual title is understood to Insider however has been excluded to keep away from any skilled repercussions.
“I wished to extend my earnings,” he stated. “I felt my workload at my first job was low sufficient, and I knew that if I could not deal with it then I may merely stop one of many jobs.”
Whereas juggling two roles may be aggravating at instances — like when he has overlapping conferences or receives sudden work — Jason stated that in some methods, his working association reduces his stress.
“I am extra prepared to say ‘No’ to duties at certainly one of my jobs since I do know I’ve a backup job,” he stated.
Jason is certainly one of many Individuals who’ve taken on further work partly as a result of excessive inflation, however he is amongst a smaller group of white-collar employees secretly holding a number of full-time distant jobs to, in lots of circumstances, double their salaries.
However the window to drag this off could also be closing, as many firms are calling staff again to the workplace and itemizing fewer totally distant positions. As of March, roughly 13% of job postings had been distant, in keeping with the staffing agency Manpower Group, down from 17% in March 2022 however up from the pre-pandemic stage of 4%.
And as information of this phenomenon grows, some members of the overemployment group are nervous they’re going to ultimately be discovered. Whereas holding two jobs directly would not violate federal or state legal guidelines, it may breach employment contracts and get individuals fired, employment legal professionals advised The Wall Avenue Journal. It is already occurred to some employees.
The desk in his residence the place Jason often works. Jason through BI
5 methods to work two distant jobs and get away with it
Jason stated he makes use of 5 completely different methods to juggle each jobs and never get caught.
First, he stated he tries to overestimate how lengthy his duties will take to present himself extra time to handle the workload from each jobs.
“If I end a process, I’ll maintain on to it for some time earlier than I submit it for evaluation,” he stated.
Second, he stated he makes positive he would not overperform at his jobs and appeal to additional consideration and assignments.
“Every time doable, I attempt to appear considerably incompetent in order that my coworkers are extra understanding once I take some time to complete a process and they also do not give me a lot of troublesome duties,” he stated.
Third, Jason stated he dedicates much less time to some work when he can get away with it.
“There are specific duties I’ve like reviewing different individuals’s work, so generally I cannot correctly evaluation their work in order that I’ve extra time to work at my different job,” he stated.
Fourth, he stated he is realized to show down tasks.
“Every time I get requested to tackle extra work, I’ll generally say ‘No’ since I have already got work on my plate,” he stated.
Fifth, he stated he makes positive his colleagues are conscious when the completion of his duties is being held up by others.
“Every time this occurs, I make sure that to say this to my coworkers and managers in order that they anticipate the work to be delayed,” he stated.
Why he isn’t nervous about an overemployment crackdown
Since taking up two full-time distant jobs, Jason stated he has immersed himself within the “overemployed group” on-line — the r/Overemployed subreddit has 176,000 members.
He stated many members of the group are involved about overemployment changing into too widespread or receiving an excessive amount of press, as a result of then employers may work to determine and crack down on these staff.
However Jason stated he is by no means been significantly involved about this.
“I did not suppose sufficient individuals would have the ability to handle overemployment both due to their profession, particular job, stress tolerance, need to work extra, and so forth and I nonetheless suppose that is true,” he stated, including that he would not suppose most employers would care sufficient to crack down on it — significantly if their staff are getting their work achieved.
Going ahead, Jason stated that he hopes to dedicate extra of his time to a brand new enterprise he began final December, although it is nonetheless within the early phases.
Within the meantime, he stated he plans to continues to maintain working at each jobs, and that the additional earnings has helped him have the monetary safety and life he needs. He stated he is fairly frugal — he would not personal a automobile, not often goes out to eat, and lives in a one-bedroom residence that prices $1,200 a month.
“For me, my present way of life looks like I’ve made it as a result of I just about have every little thing I need,” he stated.
