Remote workers doing multiple jobs in the same time frame, getting away with it, underperforming.

[flashbac]

"Remote working has made it easier than ever for staff to moonlight. But how do they cope with clashing meetings and two bosses? And can the rewards be worth the lies?"

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/nov/16/its-the-biggest-open-secret-out-there-the-double-lives-of-white-collar-workers-with-two-jobs

Can you imagine having two computers on and being on two zoom meetings simultaneously? (Advice is to mute yourself and turn camera off.)

I think this if CF territory. I hope it doesn't become more mainstream. Remote working is a force for good. These CFs might ruin it for everyone.
And aibu to think the bullshittting aspect of this will be easier for men to get away with? Here is someone explaining how to get away with underperformance. Apparently if you keep sending your manager emails about how hard you are trying they will stay off your back:

overemployed.com/set-low-expectations-at-your-two-remote-jobs/

that's not being a CF. That's committing fraud,....or is it just theft?
They're taking money for something they're not doing. Or at least not doing fully because they're busy not quite doing something, for someone else.
You can dress it up any way you like. That pig's still a pig.
And just because thieving, immoral, free-loader MPs are doing it, doesn't make it something we're all entitled to do too. It makes us fools, yet again, for letting them get away with it.

Can someone tell me what CF means? I thought it was child free but that makes no sense in this context so now I'm wondering if it's 'cheeky fucker'?

a friend claimed to be doing this a couple of weeks ago - both roles are supposed to be full time, one on a self employed basis - she only has to do twenty hours in each to fulfill the requirements of the role, because she is so good.
Sounds like fraud to me.

Of course, people have been known to do free-lance projects whilst sitting at their cubicles at work.

I had an issue for quite a while where my 'main' tax code was used for an organisation that I just did a very little bit of occasional work for, which meant I was paying too much tax on my actual, main salary. This was therefore annoying but I had to sort it out with HMRC myself - no one in payroll at my main job seemed remotely fussed or concerned that my entire tax-free allowance was allocated to this other organisation

why on earth would you expect your employer to take care of your personal tax code? They don't have the authority to contact HMRC on your behalf for starters.

Can't get through to anyone in customer services because of some people WFH and taking liberties.
I had one answer to say they were WFH and to call back in 5, I asked to hold and could hear him walking down the road, unlock the door then start up the computer. A lot don't answer phones as they've popped out or are doing other jobs. It's the customer who suffers and in turn takes their business elsewhere.

@decadentspendthrift

I've been doing three days work in one (Zoom on iPad, laptop and phone) for the last couple of months and it is stressful and I do make mistakes but as a single person without parents who can give me a deposit, it's the only way I can ever think about saving up enough to not rent. My job involves loads of pointless hanging around so my productivity isn't really impacted, but if it was and meant I was making the lives of other more senior people who already own houses difficult then I don't think I would give a shit, quite frankly.

How is it the people who own house's fault? Imagine if every 'single person with no parents to give a deposit' did this. Why not study/Train for a better paying job.

Id imagine it's quite hard to do in some sectors. I need written authorisation to do anything else, including voluntary work and my contract prohibits me from doing anything similar. So while my full time job is flexible and workload would actually allow me to start up a side business I've been thinking about the faff of seeking permission puts me off.

It's articles and reports about (a minority of) people abusing the system that will cause problems and fuel this vitriol against home or flexible working. It's actually a real bonus for most employees and employers, obviously some roles aren't suited or need the individual to be very organised and focused- customer facing for example- but it's not impossible. One telecoms company I am aware of have over half of their call centre staff working from home and have seen a big increase in productivity and a drop in call handling and waiting times.

@decadentspendthrift

I've been doing three days work in one (Zoom on iPad, laptop and phone) for the last couple of months and it is stressful and I do make mistakes but as a single person without parents who can give me a deposit, it's the only way I can ever think about saving up enough to not rent. My job involves loads of pointless hanging around so my productivity isn't really impacted, but if it was and meant I was making the lives of other more senior people who already own houses difficult then I don't think I would give a shit, quite frankly.

First you said its stressful and you make mistakes but they you say your productivity isn't affected. Which is it?

@decadentspendthrift

Those “mistakes” you mention?
Soon enough they will be picked up by one or both your employers, especially if you weren’t making mistakes before taking on a second job

I think we will all be stuck with spyware on our laptops. Checking when we are active, when there are key strokes, when our face is in front of the screen….

@Empressofthemundane

I think we will all be stuck with spyware on our laptops. Checking when we are active, when there are key strokes, when our face is in front of the screen….

Yes, this is what the future holds because the minority (lazy twits, moonlighters and the like) will ruin it for everyone.

I think it’s more of an indictment of

• how many managers fail to properly engage & motivate their staff

• how pointless so many work meetings really are - so many fail to set an agenda and a goal so people just fill the time slot with hot air and think they did a good job

Microwork - doing bits and pieces for multiple employers - is an interesting and alluring concept and breaks away from the “employee in a family” / “my employer is my life” approach which is pretty toxic.

There was a piece on the Telegraph today about the rise in sales of “employee monitoring” software.

Actually over 20 years ago we could monitor keystrokes at work. It was fairly basic but caught out a few people who thought that logging on and then doing nowt - or even going out - was an option.

You would be surprised. Didn't you read about the worker , I think a postman. Was off sick and caught down the pub. He won an employment tribunal on the basis that his contract didn't say he couldn't.

@Blooboi

You would be surprised. Didn't you read about the worker , I think a postman. Was off sick and caught down the pub. He won an employment tribunal on the basis that his contract didn't say he couldn't.

He won because the company cut corners in their own investigation and didn't follow reasonable disciplinary procedures. It wasn't as simple as his contract not having pubs mentioned in their sick leave rules.

I don't believe lots of people are really doing this .

I think this myth is being spread by media outlets owned by people who also have a financial stake in getting workers back into the office. The increase in WFH has harmed those with investments in city centre office properties.

Not according to the story. Yes the judge said that the company ( wasn't a postie ) hadn't followed proper procedure. However also said that there was maybe only a 25% chance of dismissal if they had . She said that there wasn't anything in there that prohibited the employee from acting in that way. So yes they didn't follow due procedure , but there wasn't any clause in there according to the judge.

@Empressofthemundane

I think we will all be stuck with spyware on our laptops. Checking when we are active, when there are key strokes, when our face is in front of the screen….

Most decent IT departments already have that access. Even pre pandemic.

@AutumnInBustletown

I don't believe lots of people are really doing this .

I think this myth is being spread by media outlets owned by people who also have a financial stake in getting workers back into the office. The increase in WFH has harmed those with investments in city centre office properties.

Totally agree. I can think of a few narc micromanagers at my work who were desperate to get people back into the office ASAP as its easier to bully staff in person than when they're WFH. The pandemic was a nightmare for this type of manager.

@AuntieJoyce

If any poster reading this is a payroll person I’d be interested to know how people get away with this in the UK. Do they not need a P45? Would you not have a strange tax code so that the deductions were right which would flag up you had another job?

Employee would fill in a p46 and tick the box saying p45 not available. People have different tax codes for all sorts of reasons including owing hmrc money