What is overemployment? The practice of working remotely, he explained

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Remote working hours have given workers more flexibility. For some, that means taking on a second job (and maybe a third and fourth, too).

These workers identify as “overemployed,” taking on multiple full-time jobs at the same time to supplement their income. When chaos demands an hour or two after 9-5, overworked workers report holding more full-time gigs. A 2023 Monster survey found that 37% of respondents held more than one full-time job, a number that varies widely given how many overemployed workers do so privately.

Being overworked has its dangers: there is fatigue from increased work, and the possibility of dropping the ball and not performing well in one of the roles. However, for some, the promise of double income and financial flexibility is too much to pass up.

What is overemployment?

Overworked comments on Reddit and TikTok use jargon. Commenters wouldn't even call themselves over-recruited, opting for a simpler OE instead. Then there is the job level: J1 is the main job position, while J2 is the first add-on (multiplying into J3 and J4 no matter how many positions employees get). Each worker is valued by their HPW, or hours worked per week.

Most overemployed workers stay under the radar, posting anonymously on Reddit. Keeping the performance good enough for both gigs, without employers knowing about each other, is half the battle.

“I think it's great for people who can't escape,” entrepreneur and FIRE advocate Frank Niu said on TikTok. “If your employer doesn't see a drop in productivity and you don't get fired for not doing well, I don't see where the problem is from the company's point of view.”

Overemployment is about income; many cite the cost of living as their motivation to take on more jobs. As one anonymous employee told Salary Transparent Street, “The economic climate is unstable right now and relying on a contract, or any full-time job really, is very difficult to alleviate that concern.”

Remote work is declining

Overemployment is nothing new, with the trend spreading during the visible job growth of 2020. Still, OE forums remain vibrant online, and the shifts in its participation are worth noting—especially considering its apparent decline.

Full-time telecommuting is critical to overemployment so an employee can work multiple gigs. But the virtual set-up is declining: A 2023 Pew Research study found that only 35% of workers reported full-time WFH positions, down 43% from the previous year. Many employers have switched to a hybrid model, asking employees to come into the office at least a few days a week.

Meanwhile, some employers are catching on to overemployment trends. Mouse routers are a popular OE tool, which keeps the online work environment active even when you are away. In May, Wells Fargo disclosed to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that the bank had fired nearly a dozen employees following allegations of “keyboarding.”

Maintaining multiple jobs can also be taxing. The Reddit forum covers both advice on keeping an OE job and dealing with the stress that follows. “I've seen a lot of articles about J1/2/ emphasizing people. Too many meetings, works more than 8 [hours], how to handle the crossover,” Redditor @augustusvondoom wrote in a popular thread. “Put mental/physical health first and money will follow.”

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