Six people who worked from home for up to $500,000 a year in secret discuss why they don’t feel bad and why “overemployment” is fine.
Some individuals do many remote jobs for secret six-figure salaries.They have no regrets about it.
Some individuals work many separated jobs covertly to generate six-figure salaries.
But given the growing trend of working from home, some individuals question whether handling multiple jobs is ethically right.
Six individuals of “overemployment” revealed why they aren’t feeling bad about it.
Would you take multiple hidden remote jobs to increase your income by double?
What if it required hiding anything from your supervisors and coworkers? And what if, in the process of seeking your first job, you happened to land the second one?
Would you feel uncomfortable?
The overwhelming response from “overemployed” workers is no.
In the last year, Business Insider has conducted interviews with over ten individuals who juggled many jobs and utilized their high incomes to settle debt, save for an early retirement, and purchase costly trips and medications to reduce weight. However, not everyone approves of overworked people.
The ethics of job navigating have drawn criticism from some quarters, who contend that workers shouldn’t work for one company while receiving compensation from another. While some employers might not mind if their employees take on additional responsibilities, if an employee is caught doing so without permission, it may result in termination.
In addition, given how competitive the market is for remote work, what does it mean for someone to take on a second job?
Between April 2022 and December 2023, the percentage of US remote job ads on LinkedIn decreased from over 20% to roughly 10%. Despite the drop, according to LinkedIn, 46% of all applications in December were for remote employment.
The IT sector, which employs many overemployed people, has seen a particularly competitive increase in remote employment. According to Layoffs.fyi, internet corporations like Google, Amazon, and Meta fired around 263,000 workers in 2023. Since the year began, there have been about 50,000 layoffs in the tech industry.
Business Insider inquired of six overworked individuals, both present and past, whether they felt bad about juggling multiple jobs. They sent emails about their experiences, but only under the condition that pseudonyms be used since they were afraid of the consequences for their careers. BI has confirmed their salaries and identities.
Employees ought to have the option to look for greater job security if employers have the power to fire employees at will.
Joseph, a Gen X network engineer, revealed to Business Insider that he worked three remote jobs covertly in 2022 to earn $344,000. He said that the additional revenue helped him settle his mortgage’s outstanding balance of $129,000.
Initially, Joseph’s wife disapproved of his job juggling, fearing he was depriving someone in need of work. However, they both realized the importance of diversifying income streams last year.
Joseph faced layoffs from two jobs, not due to performance, and his balancing act remained unnoticed. Without his multiple gigs, he could have been left completely unemployed, making him less guilty about his overemployment.
He emphasizes the significance of retaining his third job, recognizing its role in ensuring his financial stability. Joseph’s experience underscores the value placed on job security by overemployed workers like himself.
Robert, a Florida-based Gen Xer, disclosed to Business Insider that he generated around $335,000 last year by managing multiple jobs simultaneously. He highlighted that this supplementary income enabled him to afford a cruise costing approximately $20,000.
Amidst the tech industry’s layoffs, which have left many workers in a state of uncertainty, Robert asserted that individuals shouldn’t be criticized for taking steps to safeguard their livelihoods.
An intriguing narrative titled “How 4 people managed to discreetly hold multiple remote jobs, raking in over $300,000 annually — and the instances where they narrowly escaped detection” delves into the strategies employed by these individuals.
“If companies can easily sever ties with employees as we’re witnessing today, shouldn’t individuals have the capacity to withstand layoffs and cuts to safeguard their families?” John, a millennial IT professional based in California, questioned during his conversation with Business Insider.
He advocated for a level playing field, suggesting that if CEOs can hold positions at multiple companies, employees should have the same opportunity.
John revealed his own success, stating he was on target to surpass $300,000 in earnings last year through two remote jobs. Since he began juggling jobs in 2021, he’s managed to save approximately $150,000. Additionally, he indulged in a three-week honeymoon across Asia last year, spending roughly $9,000.
John expressed his lack of guilt regarding his multiple jobs, asserting that he was not breaching any labor laws or contractual agreements. He emphasized that his employers were satisfied with his performance.
Furthermore, John highlighted a perceived double standard within corporate culture. He pointed out that CEOs, such as Elon Musk, frequently hold positions across multiple companies, either as executives or board members, without facing criticism.
Drawing a parallel, John stated, “No one ever thinks that’s wrong.” He equated himself to a CEO, asserting, “I am the CEO of my own labor, and I choose to spend my labor on multiple projects.”
William, a tech worker in his 30s from Texas, disclosed to Business Insider that he made over $500,000 in 2022 by discreetly managing multiple remote roles. He echoed the sentiment expressed by John, stating, “I knew plenty of high-level executives that also had consulting businesses or other ventures as well.”
Despite some criticism of CEO job juggling, William noted that the practice is generally accepted in the corporate world. He acknowledged that individuals with the financial resources of someone like Musk might find it easier to handle multiple responsibilities compared to the average white-collar worker.
Steven, a project manager in his mid-20s based in the UK, shared a similar perspective with Business Insider. He revealed that he was earning approximately $90,000 annually by secretly juggling two full-time hybrid project manager roles. Steven emphasized that as long as one performs their job competently and efficiently, they should have the flexibility to pursue other opportunities on the side.
Steven explained that overemployment was his strategy for tackling his debt burden. He revealed that as of the end of last year, he owed approximately $30,000 on credit cards and had $50,000 in various loans.
Despite his busy schedule, Steven didn’t experience guilt about juggling multiple jobs because he maintained productivity and fulfilled all his responsibilities. He argued that if an employee can efficiently complete their workload within a limited timeframe, they should have the flexibility to pursue additional job opportunities.
Steven posed a hypothetical scenario, suggesting that if an employee with a supposed 40-hour workweek actually only has 20 hours of tasks to complete, they may end up idling away time. He questioned whether it’s more beneficial for them to sit idle or engage in productive work, like fitting in a second job during otherwise unoccupied hours.
Other individuals who juggle multiple jobs echoed similar sentiments.
William highlighted that in salaried positions, compensation is tied to objectives rather than hours worked. He emphasized that overemployment doesn’t equate to double billing and likened it to picking up slack from coworkers.
Justin, a Gen Xer, shared a perspective with Business Insider, revealing that he earned over $300,000 in 2022 by secretly managing three full-time remote IT-engineer roles. Contrary to expectations, Justin suggested that workers holding extra jobs could actually benefit some companies.
He dismissed any feelings of guilt about job juggling, citing his top performance in all roles. Justin believed that his multifaceted experience enhanced his value to all his employers.
“Having the ‘same job times three’ enables me to gain knowledge and become a more skilled worker overall,” he explained.