It’s no secret that our attitude towards how, when and why we work has shifted drastically in the last few years. Workplace trends pass us by faster than ever before, with The Great Resignation making way for ‘quiet quitting’, which was quickly followed by the likes of ‘rage applying’ and ’career latticing’. It’s an uncertain world, and most of us are simply trying to remain as financially stable as possible while rejecting burnout, overwork and maintaining a semblance of work/life balance.

“The current job market has seen a lot of uncertainty and layoffs, so there’s a huge feeling of instability among workers about what may lie ahead,” career coach and consultant Emily Button-Lynham tells Stylist. “With the cost of living and mortgage rates rising, compounded by inflation, there’s a perfect storm where people are seriously reconsidering how they’re earning money and whether they can – or even should – find something else.”

Enter: overemployment. While you may not have heard of it, earlier this year, Fortune reported that nearly half of workers have more than one full-time job, prompted by the shift to remote working post-pandemic.

Different from a side hustle or picking up extra work after you clock off from your 9-5, overemployment usually involves picking up another job while still employed by another company, and working those roles side by side, often without the knowledge of either employer. It’s most common in industries like tech, finance and project management, where certain aspects can be automated or completed in less time than actual contracted hours, meaning that a second job can effectively slot into the ‘downtime’ from your actual role.

If it sounds like the kind of thing wayward financial ‘gurus’ pitch on social media as the next life-changing wealth strategy, that’s because it is. Or, at least the way it’s commonly framed. From TikToks hailing it as the “ultimate money-making hack” to Reddit communities sharing tips on how to get away with working two, three or four jobs at the same time, overemployment promises a lot. “Be free from office politics and layoffs. Instead, improve your mental health and negotiate a severance,” states Overemployed.com. “More money? More freedom? Beat debts? Beat inflation? Whatever your reasons, this is the subreddit for those wanting to know more about working two or more jobs,” encourages r/overemployed, which boasts over 188,000 members. Many of its users appear to share the same mantra: work two remote jobs, earn extra income, reach financial freedom.

But it isn’t just about managing multiple positions and scooping up double or triple the earnings– it’s about improving employee empowerment. Those who engage in it often feel unempowered in their current workplace, doing as little as possible to remain hired, much like quiet quitting. “It’s interesting that so many people feel like they’re languishing and rusting out in companies that don’t love them back,” agrees Button-Lynham. Indeed, workplace satisfaction is on a downward trend, with one in three employees in the UK admitting they are unhappy in their job.

When overemployment boasts hefty benefits, it’s important to be realistic about the risks associated, too. For starters, it can be legally tricky when it comes to voiding the contract a worker signed when they were hired at their primary job or if they’re breaking any non-compete agreements. It’s also extremely controversial, being considered as neglectful, dishonest and unethical, particularly in an economic climate where many people struggle to gain even initial employment.

Button-Lynham isn’t against the idea entirely but includes some important caveats. “If it doesn’t breach your contract, working multiple roles is a great way to add to your skill set,” she admits. “Even if the fields are similar, working in a different company with a new culture, environment and reach can help you to round out gaps in your CV.” However, before pursuing any kind of (legal) overemployment, she advises deep consideration around what it is you actually want to achieve. 

“The most important thing is understanding what is driving you to consider overemployment and what you want to get out of it,” she continues. “What kind of life do you want to be living, and will this actually help elevate you to get there? Once you’ve assessed what you want – whether that’s better financial stability, early retirement or to diversify your income stream – it will be easier to look at other, perhaps less risky, ways to achieve those goals.”

“Only take on more if you’re able to balance it healthily, and it doesn’t interfere with your contractual obligations.”

Images: Getty