Nicole found herself secretly juggling multiple remote jobs after her primary program manager role at a Fortune 500 company failed to keep up with inflation. Desperate to boost her income, she turned to "over employment" and grappled with the challenges of securing a second remote job, ultimately finding a part-time position on Craiglist, paying $20 an hour. Despite her success in earning nearly $100,000 across two jobs, she has kept her job juggling a secret from both companies, fearing professional repercussions.
While Nicole's story sheds light on overemployment, it's worth noting that there is little solid data on the demographics of overemployed individuals. However, in Business Insider's conversations with over 10 job jugglers, nearly all of them were men. Nicole offered several theories on why women may be underrepresented in over-employment, pointing to the prevalence of remote-working arrangements in the tech industry, where women make up only 23% of the workforce in the US.
Nicole also highlighted the impact of gender roles and expectations, suggesting that women might face more challenges in pursuing over-employment due to household and childcare responsibilities. Additionally, she posited that women may struggle with self-doubt and undersell themselves in the workplace, possibly impacting their ability to take on additional employment.
Despite the risks associated with overemployment, such as the potential for being fired if caught without approval, Nicole remains focused on her goal of early retirement and intends to continue her job-juggling tactics. She believes that her ability to manage both roles within a 40-hour workweek minimizes the risk of being discovered. Nicole remains optimistic, stating that she believes in the potential for something better should she be let go from her current roles.