Minding Our Business
A monthly article written by Dean Becton
Beyond 9 to 5: The Hidden World of Working Multiple Remote Jobs
Several months ago, I wrote a piece about quiet quitting. While this practice still seems to be prevalent, a new, somewhat related practice seems to be gaining popularity. "Overemployed" refers to the growing trend where individuals secretly work multiple remote jobs simultaneously. This is different than moonlighting or working a second job after hours or on weekends. A growing number of people are secretly working two and three full-time jobs simultaneously. If this sounds unmanageable to you, remote work and artificial intelligence have made this practice much easier to pull off. Also, it is often reported that those engaged in this practice do not work 40 hours per week at any of the jobs they work simultaneously.
Before diving into the implications of this practice, just how prevalent is it? Obviously, being "overemployed" isn't something that is generally reported by workers and since it happens in secret, companies are often unaware when it is happening. While it is difficult to provide an accurate number of people who are overemployed, there is considerable evidence that this is a growing trend. Multiple media outlets have published articles on the surge in people working two or more full-time jobs (e.g., Slate, Marketplace, Forbes, WSJ, etc.). The attention being "overemployed" has received seems to indicate an increase in the practice. Additionally, there is a subreddit devoted to being "overemployed" (https://www.reddit.com/r/overemployed/) with 277k members. There is also an online community, Overemployed®, that provides advice or information to people considering working two or more full-time jobs with almost 57k members. This certainly doesn't provide a definitive estimate of how many people engage in the practice, but the interest in these communities is significant.
This phenomenon underscores the challenges of workload management and transparency in the realm of remote work, introducing legal, ethical, and practical considerations for both employees and employers. Firstly, engaging in multiple jobs without disclosure violates principles of transparency and honesty, breaching ethical responsibilities. Employment contracts, often featuring exclusivity clauses, may require dedication of working hours exclusively to one employer. Secretly working multiple remote jobs could violate these policies, eroding trust and potentially leading to termination. Secondly, holding multiple remote jobs may result in conflicts of interest, especially if the jobs are within the same or related industries. This raises ethical concerns and may have legal repercussions if it involves confidential information or creates a competitive situation. Thirdly, tax implications may arise due to differing laws across countries or regions, especially when working for multiple employers. Because these laws may change regularly, it could be very difficult for individuals to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Lastly, certain professions, such as finance or law, may have fiduciary duties, making working for multiple employers a potential breach. Aside from conflicts of interest and possible misuse of confidential information, there is potential for intellectual property conflicts and concerns about ownership in fields such as software development or research.
While each organization is unique, companies can adopt proactive measures to address employees secretly working for another employer. First, establish clear policies regarding outside employment, including language on exclusivity, conflict of interest, and consequences for violations. Regularly review and update employment contracts to reflect these policies. Additionally, communicate expectations clearly and provide training on the importance of transparency and the potential consequences of holding multiple jobs. Second, encourage open communication between employees and management, fostering discussions about workload, concerns, and potential conflicts. Third, implement monitoring mechanisms, such as time-tracking tools, to identify irregular work patterns or excessive hours, using technology solutions for efficient work management. Fourth, consider establishing anonymous reporting mechanisms to address concerns about undisclosed outside employment. Finally, investigate and address root causes if you learn that employees are seeking additional employment due to dissatisfaction or burnout, addressing issues within the organization like work conditions, workload, compensation, or other contributing factors.
The increase in remote work has given rise to many challenges that organizations must manage and employees working multiple full-time jobs may be a larger issue than anyone realizes. Does your organization have any experiences with this practice? How is it being addressed and how has it worked? I'd love to hear more about this.
Inspired Leaders Series, Featuring Kimberly Fontan
The Southern Miss Business Inspired Leaders Series provides industry leaders the opportunity to share their insights with the Southern Miss community. This semester, we invite Kimberly Fontan with Entergy to share what inspires her as a professional and leader.
Fontan is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Entergy, where she oversees corporate finance, accounting, internal audit, treasury, investor relations, and corporate development and planning. Before becoming CFO in 2022, Fontan served as senior vice president and chief accounting officer, where she oversaw the preparation of monthly financial reports, preparation of certain regulatory filings, and formulation and administration of accounting policy, procedures, and controls. She also led the project management office in support of executing Entergy's strategic initiatives.
In addition to her role at Entergy, she serves on the board of directors for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Fontan has an MBA from Loyola University New Orleans and a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from The University of Southern Mississippi. She is a certified public accountant and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.
2024 Economic Outlook Forum
The 2024 Economic Outlook Forum will be held in person on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 10:00am-1:00pm in the Trent Lott National Center on the Hattiesburg campus. The Economic Outlook Forum is an annual event where experts in areas of banking, finance, and academia discuss economic trends and forecasts for the year.
December & January Highlights
Business Students Warm Up in Hawaii
Twelve Southern Miss Business students embarked on a captivating journey in Hawaii this January, immersing in the rich culture and business practices offered on the islands. Guided by Drs. Brigitte Burgess and Banu Bas, the trip was a perfect balance of cultural exploration and industry insight. The students spent their time visiting with local representatives and touring the facilities of a variety of organizations, including, Jams World, UNIQLO, Moana Surfrider & Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Maui Divers, Mahi’ai Made, and many more, who were all eager to share their history and unique competitive advantages. The group also spent time exploring local, natural wonders like the Kīlauea Volcano, Wailuku River State Park, and the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. In their free time, students took the opportunity to go on a range of excursions, from hiking to whale watching. This unforgettable chapter of exploration and education has given these students more than just memories, but a better understanding of the world and themselves!
Inaugural Sales Team Social
The Professional Sales Program hosted its first Sales Team Social at the end of 2023. This event creates a niche opportunity for current competition students to network with alumni who also earned a spot on the Competition Sales Team. Seven students and four alumni shared a meal and swapped stories of long sales lab practices, road trip obstacles, and anticipation building at competitions. Industries represented by the alumni were banking, technology, real estate, and MBA candidates.
Bites with Becton
This month, we introduced our brand-new event series, Bites with Becton. This event invites business students to grab a bite to eat and chat with Dean Becton about their ideas, questions, concerns, accomplishments, and anything in between. This casual event is all about connecting, sharing, and making our business school community stronger. The first kickoff event served Domino's Pizza, thanks to our event sponsor, Central Mississippi Pizza.
School of Accountancy Alumnus Kasal Wins Bronze Medal on CPA Exam for the State of Mississippi
Southern Miss Business School of Accountancy alumnus Joseph Kasal was among the top three highest scorers in the State of Mississippi and joined a distinguished list of USM medal winners when he received the Silas M. Simmons Bronze Medal for his performance on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination, as administered by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy.
Kasal, a native of Mobile, Ala., earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in accounting from USM in 2015, graduating with honors. He joined HORNE’s Mobile office in 2016 and currently serves as a senior assurance manager in HORNE’s Construction group. He specializes in offering consulting and advisory services to contractors, bonding agents, attorneys, and sureties.
Kasal notes that during his time studying accounting at USM he gained practical skills that proved invaluable in tackling real-world challenges.
“Winning the Bronze Medal for passing the CPA exam is a testament to the solid preparation I received from the professors in the program,” said Kasal. “USM not only equipped me with knowledge, but also instilled the confidence to apply it effectively. This achievement is a reflection of the professors’ and program's effectiveness in preparing students for success in the accounting field. I am excited about the opportunities ahead in the financial world.”
Dr. Zhang Presents at Transportation Research Board Annual Conference in Washington, DC
Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang, Assistant Professor of the School of Leadership, was invited to present her study titled “Perceived Barriers towards Transportation Walking for Mississippi Adults” at the 103rd Transportation Research Board Annual Conference in Washington, DC, this January. This study aims to identify barriers to walking for transportation among Mississippi adults and their association with walking status, gender, and age. This study was conducted by Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang and Dr. Zikai Zhou and funded by the CBED 2022 Summer Research Grant Program.
Class Notes
- Lee Johnson '11 & '12 was selected for Mobile Bay's 2024 Class of 40 Under 40. Johnson is the executive vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.
- Thomas Broadus '03 was recently hired as the new President of King & Columbus, a fully integrated marketing agency with offices in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina.
- Danielle Walker '18 was recently promoted to Global Lead Sourcer, Inclusive Recruiting at Indeed.
- Makenzie Crampton '20 & '22 was recently promoted to Director of Marketing and Social Media for The Biloxi Shuckers, Minor League Baseball Double-A Affiliate of Milwaukee Brewers.
- Courtney West '21 & 23 accepted a position with South Alabama Athletics as the Assistant Director of Creative Services.
- Cody Goldman '21 accepted a position as Activity Director, Guided Pathways to Success at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL.
Business Alumni, What's New With You?
Southern Miss Business Alumni, we want to hear from you! Do you have good news to share? Maybe you got a new job, a promotion, or won an award! Please share your good news with us so we can help celebrate you and include your accomplishments in future newsletters. Click the link below to fill out the form.