🛠 Double-dipping: should it be praised or discouraged?
Taking two (or more) full-time jobs at the same time could be both a blessing and a curse.
You may have seen viral posts on social media about people ‘secretly’ having two internships or full-time jobs at the same time. You either make those people your role models, or you think to yourself “I could never do that!”.
Regardless, those people do it for their own reasons. The obvious one—which is a doubled income, the noble one—wanting to expand their skills, and the most important one—because their situation enables them to do so.
‘Pandemic’ within a pandemic
Long before remote work was the norm, millions of people around the world already juggled two jobs or even more. Most of them are freelancers who take gigs and projects that are periodic. Now that a lot of white-collar workers have a similar freedom as freelancers—with them being home most of the time, they have the choice to not only start side hustles, but also accept full-time job offers while they’re still working at their primary jobs.
This of course sounds like a nightmare for most employers. But of course, double-dippers are hardworking intellectuals who take advantage of the loophole that exists without hurting any of the companies they work for. Though double-dipping is not necessary illegal (unless it is stated otherwise in your contract), it can cause tensions and conflicts—whether that be schedule-wise or morale-wise.
Read the full story published by The Wall Street Journal writer, Rachel Feintzeig, on double-dippers and their daily challenges here.
Is it worth a try?
For some people, taking more than one job is necessary to fulfill their daily needs. Some others might just do it for the thrill of it, or simply because they can. While it’s not completely wrong, there are a lot of things you need to consider before opening yourself up to this huge challenge.
As it is easier to balance one job than it is to attempt working two, and it’s better to be great at one job than be mediocre at two, you might want to try other alternatives rather than going straight for infectious double-dipping:
Is your need for money a long-term problem or is it caused by a temporary expense that hurt your wallet?
In this case, a part-time job can be a temporary solution. Or if it’s more permanent, you might want to look into a career change instead.
Do you feel stuck in your current position at work, with limited growth opportunities?
If so, you could look up education or certification opportunities online to expand your skillset, which could land you a higher-paying job.
Learn more things you need to consider before dipping your toes in, and factors you should look out for here.
The price it pays
As any double-dipper would say, there are a lot of risks that come with having multiple jobs. Some of them manageable, most will likely burn you to the ground. There is a reason why companies have strict rules against double-dipping, it compromises the employee’s quality of work, commitment to the company, and overall quality of life. For some extra income, you are sacrificing things such as:
Physical health. One of the most common side effects of double-dipping is sleep deprivation. Not only from the long working hours, but also the mental baggage of having to stay on track with so many things all the time.
Mental health. Quality time for yourself is already a rare commodity when working one full-time job. Decreasing that amount even more will cost you time for self-care which will affect your mental wellbeing.
Work Quality. There will be days (or maybe even a lot of them) where you move a bit slower, make more mistakes, and lose focus. This is due to your body biologically prioritizing your basic needs than ‘work’.
Compromised Reputation. You can only hide something as big as having multiple jobs for so long. Once people catch on, they might either see you as inhumanely hardworking, or as someone with commitment issues.
Find out why double-dipping could be deadly dangerous in the article here.
So, what do you think? Are you one of those praise double-dippers, or look down on them? Tell us your reasons in the comments below!
We’ll see you again next week.
Cheers!