Millennial quits overemployment over stress and logistics
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — A millennial who made around $225,000 secretly working two remote jobs has decided to quit the overemployment grind.
Luke, a 37-year-old e-commerce professional based in the Southern U.S., took on a second full-time remote role in 2022. For over a year, he managed both jobs working 40-50 hours per week. He used the extra $80,000 annually to buy a truck, start an Airbnb business, and grow his savings. However, the combined stress and logistical challenges pushed him to reconsider his situation.
Promotion and new baby shift priorities
“The juice wasn’t worth the squeeze,” Luke told Business Insider about quitting his second job earlier this year.
An impending promotion at his primary job, a newborn child, higher tax liabilities, and a difficult boss were among the main reasons he cited for ending his stint of overemployment.
His company also announced a return-to-office mandate for 2024, complicating his ability to juggle both jobs seamlessly.
Decision to downscale employment
Luke continued, “Of the money I made from the second job, a third of it, I had to basically hold back just for taxes.”
The financial advantage diminished when considering the higher tax bracket, added stress, and decreased family time. A Ford survey of over 16,000 people globally found 60% of American millennials are willing to take a 20% pay cut for improved work-life balance.
“I’m not going to try and juggle both jobs,” he resolved earlier this year, as the challenges outweighed the benefits.
The rise of remote work has facilitated overemployment, sparking debates on ethics, job competition, and potential non-compete violations. Despite these concerns, many professionals continue to maximize their earnings by holding multiple remote positions.
While lucrative in the short-term, Luke concluded the overemployment lifestyle was too demanding long-term. As competition rises for remote work and employers crack down, maintaining multiple full-time jobs may become increasingly difficult.
