His trick is to work as little as possible

Probably not everyone can put up with so much stress. (Image: AdobeStock – alphaspirit)

With many workers working from home and the corresponding flexible working conditions, more and more people have started to combine several full-time jobs to increase their income (via Vice).

Jason, a 22-year-old software engineer, is a prime example. He makes an impressive salary of $144,000 a year despite only working between 20 and 30 hours a week at both jobs, Insider reports.

Jason is not his real name; he wants to protect his identity. But how does he manage to cope with this workload? We take a closer look at his strategies and the growing “overemployed community.”

Twice full-time instead of mini-job

Jason started his first full-time job less than a year ago. Because he was getting his chores done in just 10 to 15 hours a week, he was looking for a way to augment his $75,000 a year income.

side job? No thank you! Instead of focusing on freelance work or side hustles, he accepted a second full-time position as a software developer in November 2021. This combination of jobs has seen Jason earn an impressive $144,000 over the last year.

Ja(ck)son Five

Jason has revealed to Insider five strategies to help him manage that workload. You shouldn’t necessarily try all of them if you’re attached to your job.

1. Install buffer: He estimates the time required for his tasks generously in order to have more time to complete both jobs.
2. avoid attention: He avoids overdoing it so as not to draw unnecessary attention and extra responsibilities.
3. Invest less time: For some tasks, he spends as little time as possible, as long as he can get away with it.
4. say no: He prioritizes his work and rejects projects that are not related to his position.
5. Communication: He makes sure his colleagues are aware of delays caused by slow workflows. All of these strategies allow Jason to juggle his workload effectively.

Jason is not alone

More Americans are taking on extra jobs due to rising inflation. Some of them, like Jason, are secretly juggling multiple full-time remote jobs to double their income.

However, this practice could soon be made more difficult, as companies increasingly call their employees back to the office and remote work is becoming less common. US labor lawyers warn that working two jobs at the same time could violate employment contracts and lead to dismissal.

The serenity of the busy

On the subreddit r/Overemployed, which currently has around 176,000 members, Jason is said to share his experiences.

Some members are concernedthat the practice of overemployment may receive too much attention. Employers could identify such workers and take action. Not so Jason, apparently there wouldn’t be enough people who live like this:

Jason also thinks that most employers would have little interest in taking action against employees as long as they do their job well.

Despite his busy schedule, Jason still has other plans. He hopes to invest more time in his new company, which he launched last December. However, his company is still in its infancy.

Currently, Jason is content with his lifestyle and financial security. He says that frugality and a modest lifestyle enabled him to achieve his goals.

What do you think of Jason and his way of working? Would you join the “overemployed” community? Tell us in the comments!