OT: Working Two Full Time Jobs

[Mr_Sinister]

A new phenomenon has taken hold in America since the pandemic. A lot of people working from home have secretly started to work two jobs unbeknownst to their employers. Who wouldn't want two paychecks, right? Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem so long as you're adequately doing both jobs, but there in lays the problem. Can you truly work two full time jobs with concurrent hours? Most employers would say no and have started firing employees whom they've caught doing this. My question to you is:
1: Do you know anyone doing this?
2: What are your thoughts on this practice in general?
3: Do you think this is fair relative to those who have to work in-person jobs (police officers, construction workers, doctors, etc) and are thus only able to work one job at a time?

The implications of this is far reaching. All of a sudden, your money doesn't go as far because someone down the street is getting paid two wages for the same number of hours. Does this mean those who work in-person now deserve to be paid more to make up this difference? Should the IRS tax these people more than the general population?
Discuss...

 

[365Poster24Seven]

I do it and have been doing since 2013. Private practice where I see sick people 4 days a week and 2 days at summit Overlook. I treasure Saturday after 12 Sunday and Monday. It’s what it takes to get ahead and so many others do it. My brother is a fireman and a nurse practitioner and does very well for himself. It’s the American way.

 

[RUbacker]

A new phenomenon has taken hold in America since the pandemic. A lot of people working from home have secretly started to work two jobs unbeknownst to their employers. Who wouldn't want two paychecks, right? Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem so long as you're adequately doing both jobs, but there in lays the problem. Can you truly work two full time jobs with concurrent hours? Most employers would say no and have started firing employees whom they've caught doing this. My question to you is:
1: Do you know anyone doing this?
2: What are you thoughts on this practice in general?
3: Do you think this is fair relative to those who have to work in-person jobs (police officers, construction workers, doctors, etc) and are thus only able to work one job at a time?

The implications of this is far reaching. All of a sudden, your money doesn't go as far because someone down the street is getting paid two wages for the same number of hours. Does this mean those who work in-person now deserve to be paid more to make up this difference? Should the IRS tax these people more than the general population?
Discuss...

If they are doing it they are scamming their employers .

 

[RUevolution36]

A new phenomenon has taken hold in America since the pandemic. A lot of people working from home have secretly started to work two jobs unbeknownst to their employers. Who wouldn't want two paychecks, right? Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem so long as you're adequately doing both jobs, but there in lays the problem. Can you truly work two full time jobs with concurrent hours? Most employers would say no and have started firing employees whom they've caught doing this. My question to you is:
1: Do you know anyone doing this?
2: What are you thoughts on this practice in general?
3: Do you think this is fair relative to those who have to work in-person jobs (police officers, construction workers, doctors, etc) and are thus only able to work one job at a time?

The implications of this is far reaching. All of a sudden, your money doesn't go as far because someone down the street is getting paid two wages for the same number of hours. Does this mean those who work in-person now deserve to be paid more to make up this difference? Should the IRS tax these people more than the general population?
Discuss...

They are being taxed on their earnings, why would you think that they aren't?

Work based on hours provided to a company is an old-school way of thinking. For knowledge workers, pay should be outcome based...are you getting the responsibilities of a role done? yes? no prob.

Where there is an issue is when companies have non-competes or policies against it. If people clear it with their first employer, why is this an issue at all?

 

[fluoxetine]

This, I believe, is much less prevalent than those articles make it sound. Also, you are probably breaking your agreements with these employers so if you get fired you get no sympathy from me.

That said, compensation is about how much you are worth, not fairness. So “no” to any of the fairness questions. Number of hours is also not relevant to anything unless you are charging a client by the hour. If I do my job in 1 hour or 100, my employer is paying me for the results.

 

[brgRC90]

And they're still all out at the gym and shopping during the day.

 

[RUbacker]

This, I believe, is much less prevalent than those articles make it sound. Also, you are probably breaking your agreements with these employers so if you get fired you get no sympathy from me.

That said, compensation is about how much you are worth, not fairness. So “no” to any of the fairness questions. Number of hours is also not relevant to anything unless you are charging a client by the hour. If I do my job in 1 hour or 100, my employer is paying me for the results.

If I’m paying a customer service rep for a certain shift , they should not work for anyone else during that shift. Simple and honorable.

 

[kupuna133]

So you think the solution is to tax people more for working more? I would suggest put a tax on handouts and subsidies. See how quickly those end.

I have no issue with people working two jobs if their jobs are task or assignment driven. But if their job is shift based and they are meant to be available at certain times then there is an issue.

 

[hankee18]

I knew a guy doing this early 2000s. He had 2 different outside sales jobs same general area of the state. I thought it was brilliant at the time

But living that double life with team meetings and not getting caught in general had to be hard

We should be encouraging more Americans to work. It's better than the sit at home and collect a handout alternative

 

[RUBubba]

I just heard about someone doing this. They were working for an insurance company from home while also selling real estate.
Yes, selling real estate is something you can do on the side or part time, but this person wasn't. They were clearly working both full time. They were not answering their insurance job phone, but instead calling people back later. They managed to do both jobs for about 2 months before getting "busted". Complaints from a few clients, then other co-workers when they noticed calls were not getting picked up. Reviews of the call logs showed large gaps in the times when the person wasn't answering.

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

Do whatever you need to do, as long as the work gets done.

For me personally,

 

[fluoxetine]

If I’m paying a customer service rep for a certain shift , they should not work for anyone else during that shift. Simple and honorable.

It really depends on the job. You are describing a job where the description is essentially “be available to do x between x hours”. If you are working for someone else then you aren’t available. But a lot of jobs are based on completing projects etc. if the project is done it isn’t really any of your concern what else the person is doing.

 

[RUbacker]

It really depends on the job. You are describing a job where the description is essentially “be available to do x between x hours”. If you are working for someone else then you aren’t available. But a lot of jobs are based on completing projects etc. if the project is done it isn’t really any of your concern what else the person is doing.

If you read my post again I state it’s a job expected to work a shift for that employer.

 

[T2Kplus20]

A new phenomenon has taken hold in America since the pandemic. A lot of people working from home have secretly started to work two jobs unbeknownst to their employers. Who wouldn't want two paychecks, right? Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem so long as you're adequately doing both jobs, but there in lays the problem. Can you truly work two full time jobs with concurrent hours? Most employers would say no and have started firing employees whom they've caught doing this. My question to you is:
1: Do you know anyone doing this?
2: What are you thoughts on this practice in general?
3: Do you think this is fair relative to those who have to work in-person jobs (police officers, construction workers, doctors, etc) and are thus only able to work one job at a time?

The implications of this is far reaching. All of a sudden, your money doesn't go as far because someone down the street is getting paid two wages for the same number of hours. Does this mean those who work in-person now deserve to be paid more to make up this difference? Should the IRS tax these people more than the general population?
Discuss...

I have 2 full-time jobs. First is in pharma and the second is trolling this board!

 

[T2Kplus20]

I knew a guy doing this early 2000s. He had 2 different outside sales jobs same general area of the state. I thought it was brilliant at the time

But living that double life with team meetings and not getting caught in general had to be hard

We should be encouraging more Americans to work. It's better than the sit at home and collect a handout alternative

During the core of the pandemic, I joked around with a pharma buddy that it is actually possible to balance a US position and a Global position (likely EU focused) due to work from house and the time difference. However, you would be on call for 14 hours a day. Tough to handle long term!

 

[Knight Shift]

I have 2 full-time jobs. First is in pharma and the second is trolling this board!

Hope for your family's sake you are better at your first job than your second job. 😜

 

[T2Kplus20]

Hope for your family's sake you are better at your first job than your second job. 😜

Being good at job #1 gives me time for job #2. Looking forward to the winter/snow season! :)

 

[Knight Shift]

Being good at job #1 gives me time for job #2. Looking forward to the winter/snow season! :)

 

[mdk01]

I do it and have been doing since 2013. Private practice where I see sick people 4 days a week and 2 days at summit Overlook. I treasure Saturday after 12 Sunday and Monday. It’s what it takes to get ahead and so many others do it. My brother is a fireman and a nurse practitioner and does very well for himself. It’s the American way.

The issue is not 2 jobs, it's concurrently. Does your brother do any nurse practitioner work when he's on duty as a firefighter? Does one employer expect you to be available during certain hours? What does your employment contract, if on exists, spell out?

 

[dconifer]

I have 2 full-time jobs. First is in pharma and the second is trolling this board!

Not unexpectedly, there are a lot of us Jerseyans in Pharma...

 

[fluoxetine]

If you read my post again I state it’s a job expected to work a shift for that employer.

Right, I said that.

 

[365Poster24Seven]

The issue is not 2 jobs, it's concurrently. Does your brother do any nurse practitioner work when he's on duty as a firefighter? Does one employer expect you to be available during certain hours? What does your employment contract, if on exists, spell out?

He has been a firefighter for 15 years works his 24 hour shift gets 3 days off. Works 2 sometimes 3 days a week as a Nurse Practitioner. 10 years away from a pension with the fire department. It’s a great career and makes 6 figures in both. He does not do both jobs at the same time.

 

[rutgersdave]

Long time ago, someone mentioned that people at work were caught doing two jobs as insurance adjusters at two different companies. A management employee left one company and went to the other and found the same employees employed at the new company.

 

[newell138]

I have 2 full-time jobs. First is in pharma and the second is trolling this board!

You beat me to it lol

 

[ru66]

many firms have non compete / employment contracts--especially in consulting practices---you'd get fired pretty quickly. In my opinion people that want to learn, be mentered and make contacts (especially young/newer employees) should be in the office not at home--big mistake for your future by hiding out.If the boss is in you better be.

 

[rurichdog]

It really depends on the job. You are describing a job where the description is essentially “be available to do x between x hours”. If you are working for someone else then you aren’t available. But a lot of jobs are based on completing projects etc. if the project is done it isn’t really any of your concern what else the person is doing.

I should introduce you to some people I've worked for. You got your project done in a day, that Boss expected you to take 2 weeks? Here's 5 new projects. Get them done by Friday, Mr. Superstar!

 

[Saint Puppy]

So you think the solution is to tax people more for working more? I would suggest put a tax on handouts and subsidies. See how quickly those end.

I have no issue with people working two jobs if their jobs are task or assignment driven. But if their job is shift based and they are meant to be available at certain times then there is an issue.

Yeah our system is so backwards. I have people play the unemployment game all the time - it sometimes makes more sense for them not to work a Per Diem shift than to work. They get paid more or make so little working it makes more sense for them to stay at home. Cant agree more people should be rewarded for working and CONTRIBUTING to society - not here though.

 

[tom1944]

A new phenomenon has taken hold in America since the pandemic. A lot of people working from home have secretly started to work two jobs unbeknownst to their employers. Who wouldn't want two paychecks, right? Ideally, this wouldn't be a problem so long as you're adequately doing both jobs, but there in lays the problem. Can you truly work two full time jobs with concurrent hours? Most employers would say no and have started firing employees whom they've caught doing this. My question to you is:
1: Do you know anyone doing this?
2: What are you thoughts on this practice in general?
3: Do you think this is fair relative to those who have to work in-person jobs (police officers, construction workers, doctors, etc) and are thus only able to work one job at a time?

The implications of this is far reaching. All of a sudden, your money doesn't go as far because someone down the street is getting paid two wages for the same number of hours. Does this mean those who work in-person now deserve to be paid more to make up this difference? Should the IRS tax these people more than the general population?
Discuss...

The IRS does not tax people Congress taxes people. The IRS administers the tax laws that Congress passed

 

[kupuna133]

Yeah our system is so backwards. I have people play the unemployment game all the time - it sometimes makes more sense for them not to work a Per Diem shift than to work. They get paid more or make so little working it makes more sense for them to stay at home. Cant agree more people should be rewarded for working and CONTRIBUTING to society - not here though.

I know a couple of people that had to shut down home care business because they couldn’t get workers that would work more than 16-18 hours per week once minimum wage increased. No one wanted to work above that because they knew their entitlement cutoffs down to the penny. THey offered insurance and 401k to full time employees and very few were interested.

 

[hankee18]

He has been a firefighter for 15 years works his 24 hour shift gets 3 days off. Works 2 sometimes 3 days a week as a Nurse Practitioner. 10 years away from a pension with the fire department. It’s a great career and makes 6 figures in both. He does not do both jobs at the same time.

I commend your brother, that's 2 tough gigs

Why is it always the firefighters w the 2 jobs lol? It's always real estate with those guys ha ha

 

[Saint Puppy]

I know a couple of people that had to shut down home care business because they couldn’t get workers that would work more than 16-18 hours per week once minimum wage increased. No one wanted to work above that because they knew their entitlement cutoffs down to the penny. THey offered insurance and 401k to full time employees and very few were interested.

Yup - offered a job to one of my in-laws co-worker over the summer that would pay her more in a day than she made working full time in a week. She ultimately turned it down because she would make too much and it would affect her benefits. I feel like we are in an alternate reality sometimes with these laws/protocols that penalize people for trying to get ahead - how is that allowed to happen? There has to be a better way.

 

[ClassOf02]

I just heard about someone doing this. They were working for an insurance company from home while also selling real estate.
Yes, selling real estate is something you can do on the side or part time, but this person wasn't. They were clearly working both full time. They were not answering their insurance job phone, but instead calling people back later. They managed to do both jobs for about 2 months before getting "busted". Complaints from a few clients, then other co-workers when they noticed calls were not getting picked up. Reviews of the call logs showed large gaps in the times when the person wasn't answering.

Weird — I’m also in insurance and recently had an eerily similar situation.

 

[RUBubba]

Weird — I’m also in insurance and recently had an eerily similar situation.

I'm trying to remember where I heard the story. It wasn't someone I knew, but rather someone else talking about the situation.

 

[gef21]

Working X hours is an old way of thinking. Time is wasted in the office being social (or posting on message boards) frequently. Get paid for quality of work and completion.

I basically work two full time jobs but they are connected. I teach my normal hours as well as am the head coach of two varsity sports. I am working non stop all of the time except when I am with my family.

I had Normal school today, meetings, and multiple coach contacts as well as film breakdown and review. And My day is not close to being done yet.

 

[RUBubba]

As the OP said, "Concurrent". Plenty of people work two jobs... but doing two jobs at the same hours of the day... thats different.

No one questions the guy that leaves his accounting job at 5:00, then goes and tends bar for a couple of hours.

 

[RUevolution36]

Yup - offered a job to one of my in-laws co-worker over the summer that would pay her more in a day than she made working full time in a week. She ultimately turned it down because she would make too much and it would affect her benefits. I feel like we are in an alternate reality sometimes with these laws/protocols that penalize people for trying to get ahead - how is that allowed to happen? There has to be a better way.

when people are at the margins, they're going to make decisions based on what is financially best for them.

Yeah our system is so backwards. I have people play the unemployment game all the time - it sometimes makes more sense for them not to work a Per Diem shift than to work. They get paid more or make so little working it makes more sense for them to stay at home. Cant agree more people should be rewarded for working and CONTRIBUTING to society - not here though.

It means that, as an employer, you are not offering enough pay.

 

[mildone]

I guess I quadruple dip. There's the two glamourous jobs w/the hookers and blow business. Then there's the two less obvious, but no less necessary, full time jobs that come with the first two: psychologist and bouncer.

It's 4 jobs but someone dirty has to do it.

 

[Ronnie_B]

I do know someone doing this, he has two work phones and he has to be careful that he answers each one saying the right company's name.

 

[LeapinLou]

If the respective companies are aware of what you're doing, its fine. If they're not, it's not.

 

[superfan01]

Alot of people I know in NYC who wfh do this. They are in tech, marketing or sales typically. Nerither company knows and both are full time. Sometimes they even go on zoom calls at the same time for both companies and just don't go on video.
These people are doing this to real companies too. Like being a full time programmer for bloomberg and phizer at same time. Both think your full time employees. Crazy.

My view: it's a bull market trade that you're able to get away with in a market that is tight labor like right now.
However, you're likely average at best at both jobs and when market turns and companies tighten they will look to cut employees who aren't above average. I also question how much you can rise up in your career doing this. I think it's a huge mistake for employees under 35 to do this.