Polygamous working: why are people secretly doing two or three full-time jobs at once?

"Polygamous working is holding two or more full-time jobs simultaneously, without an employer knowing. Presumably they figure it out when they notice you're only there half the time. In the old days maybe, but with the rise of hybrid and remote working, polygamous employment can easily go undetected. If no one can tell, then what's wrong with it? There's no law against having two jobs, but in some circumstances it could be considered fraud, and there is a law against that."

"Did you sign an employment contract? Signed it; didn't read it. It may well require you to declare any other employment, it may prohibit it outright, or it may impose confidentiality restrictions that make it impossible for you to hold another job. The work gets done, the money gets paid this is a victimless crime. Is it? Last month a woman was convicted of fraud for having two full-time jobs, one at Barnet council and the other at Croydon council."

Polygamous working is holding two or more full‑time jobs simultaneously, often without employer knowledge. Moonlighting and side hustles differ because they are secondary or freelance roles usually done in personal time. Hybrid and remote work make simultaneous full‑time employment easier to conceal. Employment contracts often require declaring other work or prohibit external employment and may include confidentiality clauses that prevent dual full‑time roles. While no general law forbids multiple jobs, undisclosed dual employment can amount to fraud, particularly in the public sector. The National Fraud Initiative cross‑references payroll and pension data and has uncovered cases and convictions.

Read at www.theguardian.com