I read an article on LinkedIn the other day about people who have taken on two jobs during this pandemic. I don’t mean second jobs that they go to after their first jobs. No, these folks are working a full-time second job they do during the hours of their normal full-time job while working remotely. So, they are bringing home two full-time paychecks… Sweet, huh?
The hustle requires skipping meetings from their first job by making excuses so they can make the meeting for their second job. This is just crazy to me because I have enough stress daily from my only full-time job and my personal life that I couldn’t even begin to imagine taking on another.
And then there is the question of whether it is ethical or even legal to do this. Legality-wise, it seems here in Pennsylvania it is perfectly legal (for the record, I am not a lawyer, I Googled it quickly). There is always the chance there could be something in your contract with your employer stating this is against company policy, meaning you could be fired. But there are no legal ramifications that could arise from this that I am aware of.
Now, on to moral and ethical considerations! At first, I was against this, thinking it sounded seedy and shady. However, in my years on this planet, when I really take the time to reflect on how well companies have treated me or my fellow co-workers…it begins to feel almost justified.
During all the years I have spent working more than 40-hour weeks for no additional salary or extra money come bonus time, I’ve also been a witness to – and the victim of – companies simply deciding you’re no longer needed regardless of how much time and effort you dedicated to providing the best service possible. Just disregarded after endless workshops blathering about how everyone in the company matters and we are all one big happy family.
So, would I ever attempt this myself, this game of juggling two jobs at once? Right now, personally, I would not. The pros don’t seem to outweigh the cons of the additional stress that would ensue. And I like the team of people I work with and have respect for my current manager. But reading that article really made me think about things, and what I would have or should have done in the past, and what I might do in the future. I mean after all, if a company’s main goal is making the most money for its stakeholders, my main goal should be to maximize my own profits, right?
Would you ever attempt to do this? Would you feel guilty or like you were cheating the system? Would you be able to handle the additional stresses that would surely come from this?
Columnist Matt Weed is a resident of Crafton who enjoys travel, supporting local businesses and exploring the neighborhoods that make up the west side of Pittsburgh and beyond.