- A rising trend of employees secretly maintaining multiple remote jobs
- Social media platforms provide insights for managing dual roles seamlessly
- Undisclosed multitasking leads to issues like burnout, legal liabilities, and reduced productivity
The shift to remote work has given rise to a surprising phenomenon: employees clandestinely holding multiple full-time positions, a trend dubbed “overemployed” or polygamous working.
While it’s not inherently illegal to juggle multiple jobs, failing to disclose this information can infringe on contractual obligations, disrupt productivity, and introduce both legal and ethical complications.
HR Magazine highlights, “Engaging in such moonlighting can have significant ramifications beyond simply diminished performance; it poses genuine risks of burnout, improper use of company resources, potential data security breaches, and a fundamental breakdown of trust within the workplace.”
Managing Dual Roles: Insights from Reddit and TikTok
The emergence of flexible and hybrid work arrangements means many people can perform their jobs entirely online, often without ever stepping foot in an office.
“The trend has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work, paving the way for savvy employees to handle multiple roles—sometimes juggling as many as three or four at once,” reports The Telegraph.
One individual, identified as “Nadia,” shared with the publication that she rakes in £87,000 while working two jobs from her home setup.
On platforms like Reddit and TikTok, a plethora of tips on managing multiple roles circulate, with some users proudly disclosing their use of mouse jigglers and dual laptop setups to navigate simultaneous meetings.
One UK-based influencer recounted, “This worked wonders for me. It allowed me to treat myself, explore new places, and save for my future.”
However, experts caution against the risks involved. “These complications can escalate into significant legal and reputational dilemmas,” cautioned HR Magazine, recommending that organizations implement “ongoing or periodic rescreening” to mitigate risks and safeguard both employers and employees.
In some instances, criminal charges have been levied—for example, The i Paper reported on a man who received a one-year prison sentence for collecting salaries from two full-time jobs over a span of ten months.
Business coach Peter Boolkah addressed the hazards of overemployment in a conversation with The Telegraph: “This could lead to small business owners experiencing higher rates of employee absenteeism due to burnout,” he explained. “For those balancing two jobs, the overstretching often results in diminished productivity. Ultimately, the ones who take sick leave may find themselves in a worse financial position.”
Whether driven by economic necessity or pure opportunism, the trend of polygamous working raises pressing questions about trust, governance, and the sustainability of a remote-first work culture.
