Work From Home Moonlighting – Equifax Caught Employee Working 2 Remote Jobs and Fired Them
Despite a general lack of laws against Equifax moonlighting or working for multiple employers, many remote workers are still secretly juggling two full-time jobs. This phenomenon has become even more common during the COVID pandemic. We’ve all read stories of people who have earned huge sums by working two or more remote jobs simultaneously. However, these double-life escapades aren’t without their risks.
1. They were stealing my time
In an era when working from home is more common than ever, it’s not surprising that some people find ways to moonlight with a second job. After all, who doesn’t want to make a little extra money? But while it’s perfectly legal to have a side hustle in most states, it can be tricky for employees who work remotely to get away with working two full-time jobs at the same time.
If you do work two remote jobs at the same time, your employer might notice that you’re using company equipment or resources for your other job. Or, if your second job is in a similar industry, it could be a violation of your employer’s intellectual property rights. If you’re caught, your employer may decide to terminate your employment.
According to the U.S. News, it’s not illegal to have two remote jobs as long as they don’t overlap and you aren’t working more than 40 hours a week for both employers. However, some companies might require their workers to sign a contract that says they won’t hold another full-time position. And if you’re working for a competitor, it’s possible you could be fired for violating privacy laws or having a conflict of interest. Having two jobs at once can also be stressful, especially when you get caught.
2. They were making it difficult for me to do my job
Many people enjoy the perks of working remotely so much that they moonlight on the side with other jobs. This isn’t illegal, but some employers are unwilling to sit idly by as their employees secretly work another job on the side. For instance, Equifax recently fired 24 of its remote workers who were juggling multiple jobs, according to Business Insider. Despite the fact that it is legal to work two full-time jobs from home, if you’re caught doing so, it could lead to one or both of your employers firing you.
It’s not just the fact that you’re working a second job that can cause your employer to fire you; it’s how you do the job. If you’re stealing company time, or sharing information between the companies (like confidential client details or trade secrets), this is unethical and illegal. It can also make it difficult for your other employer to do their job well if you are not giving them the attention they deserve.
However, it’s not just your employers who can catch you working multiple jobs; friends and family members can do it too! It’s been common for double-timing employees to get caught through unforeseen connections – whether it’s someone gossiping with your coworker, a neighbor asking about your daycare schedule or even a family member telling your employers that you’re spending too much time at the house.
3. They were making me feel like a slave
Working two full-time jobs from home isn’t illegal as long as both companies agree to the arrangement and there isn’t a conflict of interest. But that doesn’t mean that employees will never get caught.
It’s not uncommon for employees to moonlight with a second job on the side or work two different part-time hourly positions at once. But when it comes to juggling multiple full-time remote jobs, that’s something that many employees are still struggling to get right.
The practice of juggling multiple jobs is becoming more common as remote work has become more popular during the pandemic. In fact, a survey from Resume Builder found that 69 percent of remote workers have a side hustle or another job. And some of those side hustles can be pretty lucrative.
But not everyone is going to be so lucky. Recently, the credit-reporting company Equifax revealed that it fired 24 remote workers who were secretly juggling more than one role. The company used its own software to track employee activity and discovered that some of its employees were juggling up to three jobs at once.
It’s not just software that can catch these double-timers; it’s also friends, coworkers, daycare parents, or clients who can see if someone is working on the sly and decide to report them. We’ve combed through several stories of how remote workers got caught working two jobs and most of the time it came down to shared connections.
4. They were treating me like a slave
Many employees enjoy remote work’s perks so much that they take on additional roles, moonlighting or working two full-time jobs while logging in to their primary job at the office. Though it isn’t illegal to hold two full-time jobs, this type of double work can be caught and could land you in trouble with your employer.
While it might seem harmless, employees who moonlight for two different employers can be fired from one or both positions. This is especially true if you’re not being honest with your employer, which can be hard to do in the digital age. It also doesn’t matter if your two jobs are in the same industry, as many companies have policies against having more than one job unless it is necessary or there is a clear conflict of interest.
Whether it’s your daycare parent, coworker, or even a friend who notices that you’re working two jobs on the sly, it can be caught. Depending on how your boss finds out, you could get terminated from either position. It isn’t a good idea to work more than one job for the same company and you should always check your employee handbook for the most up-to-date information on this topic.
