You Are Entitled To Overemployment

In late 2022 the term ‘Overemployment’ truly hit the mainstream. Sure, it has been around for decades prior (a Google Trends search reveals that the highest amount of search traffic for the term actually came in the early 2000s), and we had the term being bandied about during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was only in late-2022 that the term exploded in the public consciousness.

The reason? A viral LinkedIn post from Canopy CEO David Bell about the ethical implications of overemployment.

If you’re not familiar with the post, it basically goes as follows: David Bell talks about how his company has had to fire two engineers working remotely who were caught being ‘Overemployed’. Here are some quotes from his post:

“Whenever I read stories in the media about people doing this I'm usually surprised that they don't make a bigger deal of the core moral issues at play: "working" two full-time jobs is stealing, and it also involves a great deal of lying and deception.”

“You're stealing from those who are depending on you to get work done and whose careers ride on the success of the companies for which they work.

“And finally, you're very likely stealing a job from someone who wants and needs it.”

Theft? Now that’s an extreme characterization if I’ve ever heard one. Overemployment doesn’t necessarily involve dishonesty or misrepresentation – in fact, many be ‘overemployed’ completely transparently. If your employees feel they can’t be honest with you about how they are spending their time outside of their work agreement with your company, perhaps it is time to consider that your company culture isn’t necessarily as ‘open’ and ‘welcoming’ as you might think it is. If it was, perhaps your employees wouldn’t feel the need about misrepresenting their other commitments.

Furthermore, the insinuation that overemployment means you’re ‘stealing’ from coworkers who depend on you to get work done and whose careers ride on company success is ridiculous on its face. As long as you are operating at peak efficiency and productivity, meeting all deadlines, and contributing positively then how is overemployment the same thing as stealing hours? The former is a net positive for the company and the latter is literal theft. Do not conflate them. 

I’ll go as far as to postulate that an employee that is overemployed is potentially more valuable than one that isn’t. That’s because a person that is overemployed is acquiring experience at 2x the speed. They’re putting themselves n more varied situations and learning at a faster rate than someone who just puts in their hours and goes home. 

The final point that Mr. Bell made in his post was regarding ‘stealing’ jobs that are available. I suppose that makes sense if you think of the world as a ‘zero-sum game’. The truth is far more complex than that, however. As a CEO himself, Mr. Bell should know that many diverse factors contribute to job availability and that the participation of individuals with a wide range of skills and experience could actually increase workforce opportunities rather than diminish them. More research would be needed into this area to definitively say what the impact of overemployment is on the job market.

Is Being Overemployed Legal?

As you can already imagine, it depends on where you live. I’ll specifically cover US, UK, and Canadian law in this article (to the best of my abilities – I am not a lawyer and you should consult with an actual lawyer before making any decisions that could impact future earnings)

In the United States, the concept of at-will employment empowers both employees and employers, making it legally permissible to work multiple jobs – remote or otherwise. However, it's important to remain cognizant of potential tax implications associated with such arrangements. 

If you are a marketer in the UK or Canada, however, your situation is a tad bit different as neither location recognizes at-will employment and employment is expressly more contractual in nature than it is in the US. While working two jobs simultaneously is generally permitted, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer who will let you know what the legal obligations outlined in your employment contracts are.

It's crucial to acknowledge that termination risks exist for marketing professionals regardless of whether they hold one or multiple remote jobs. In the US, specifically, at-will employment means that terminations can occur at any time. However, embracing multiple remote jobs can actually be advantageous within this framework, as it provides you with diversified income streams and reduces the reliance on exclusive employment arrangements.

Overemployed Tips

As a marketing professional exploring multiple remote jobs, carefully reviewing your employment offer letters and employee handbooks is imperative. Pay particular attention to the sections addressing conflicts of interest, as they outline expectations and obligations regarding secondary employment. Understanding these guidelines empowers you to make informed decisions about disclosing your multiple remote jobs to some or all of your employers, based on your unique circumstances.

If there are no conflicts of interest, you may opt for a low profile if you determine that the company culture in one or both companies does not value transparency and is still stuck on reactionary ways of thinking about employment. Always remember, however, that the current corporate landscape values versatility, and working on multiple projects allows you to leverage your skills and expertise across different platforms. Furthermore, loyalty in today's marketing industry may not always be rewarded, so embracing multiple remote jobs enables you to broaden your professional horizons.

Keeping Overemployment Going

Unlike the two engineers who Mr. Bell fired before going on his LinkedIn diatribe against overemployment, you need to ensure that you are operating at your best in order to make this arrangement work. 

That means radically rethinking your mindset and adopting a methodology that allows you to operate at your best as a marketer.

Wanna know more about how you can unlock and maintain peak performance even when working multiple full-time jobs? For a limited time I’m allowing my readers a peak behind the curtain. Sign up below and I’ll pop-over a one-pager detailing my methodology along with next steps for getting started.