More Aussies forced to take on two full-time jobs as cost of living bites

Aussies are increasingly clocking up 80 hour weeks, working multiple full time jobs just to make ends meet. But experts say anyone doing this needs to be careful.

Aussie workers are taking on multiple full-time roles – clocking up more than 80 hours on-the-job every week – in a desperate attempt to put food on the table and buy a house to live.

As costs of living continue to spiral, exclusive research has unveiled the extreme measures workers are taking to make ends meet, with one-in-10 white collar Australians now working at least two full-time jobs.

Those most likely to be juggling more than an 80-hour work week are Gen Zs and Millennials. These groups say the long hours are necessary to cover essentials such as groceries and to save for a house, the research from job site Indeed reveals.

Nearly all workers holding down multiple jobs admit “borrowing’’ time from one employer to fulfil their responsibilities to another, prompting warnings they could face on-the-spot dismissal and possible legal action if caught.

Indeed career insights specialist Kate Furey believes workers performing additional jobs while on the clock for their primary employer is a concern. But she adds it’s a “stark reminder of the financial challenges people are grappling with’’.

Furey says the stakes are high, with workers needing to earn at least $51,500 more in their primary job to consider giving up their other employment.

“As living costs and property prices continue to outpace earnings, Australian workers are responding by taking on additional paid work,’’ she says.

“Purchasing power has not kept up with soaring property prices. For Gen Z and Millennials, the journey to property ownership is proving challenging and unachievable for many without multiple income streams.’’

Play it safe

Workers within the business and services sector are the most likely to hold multiple full-time jobs, followed by those in health and education, finance and insurance and production, the research shows.

Workers say artificial intelligence is essential to their ability to hold down at least two full-time roles, with most so proficient at using the technology that they plan to secure even more jobs.

Almost one-in-five people with multiple roles are keeping the extra work a secret from their primary employer.

People and behaviour expert Mark Carter says workers take a huge gamble by hiding other jobs from their boss and believes there are far safer ways to increase earnings.

“I’m a fan of transparent conversations with your employer to try and negotiate (higher) pay based on the value you are bringing back to the business – perhaps project-based remuneration or bonus-based remuneration for over-delivery,’’ he says.

“In a gig economy, some people can mitigate the risk (of working multiple jobs) by running them as a contractual arrangement and then you are free to work for lots of different people anyway.’’

‘Doing what we have to’

Melbourne mum Monique Cotton works all day as executive director of The Building and Construction Company, and from 6pm to 2am on her tech start-up.

Most workers with multiple full-time jobs say their health is suffering and they miss quality time with family.

Melbourne mum Monique Cotton works full time as executive director of The Building and Construction Company, a residential building firm she runs with husband Luke.

At the end of each day, she spends another eight hours working on her tech start-up company, Weebell, which has developed a patented smart diaper sensor for babies and seniors.

She’s also caring for 10-month-old daughter, Sophia.

“There’s no such thing as work-life balance. It’s just exhausting,’’ Cotton says.

“My husband will knock off at 3.30 or 4 o’clock, which all tradies do, come home and help with dinner and the baby and then I work (on Weebell) from 6pm to about 2am.

“It’s not a long-term solution. I’m hoping to get to a point where the business becomes autonomous.

“But right now, we don’t want to lose our home and we want to provide the best quality care for Sophia … so we’re doing what we have to do.’’

Time thieves

Indeed career insights specialist Kate Furey.

Prominent workplace relations lawyer Joe Murphy describes staff moonlighting at work as “time thieves’’ and says businesses are taking a hard line on those caught working secret other jobs.

The director at commercial law firm Cowell Clarke says most job contracts demand employees work only for their employer during the specified hours of employment, and specific side hustle policies ensure workers are clear about their responsibilities.

Bosses who discover their staff are “effectively working for someone else on their tab justifiably feel ripped off,’’ Murphy says, with employees likely to face instant dismissal.

“Some may even be directed straight to court on their way out,’’ he says.

In instances where workers have been running their own enterprise, Murphy says they could face expensive damages claims, be forced to forfeit any profits and have their business shut down.

“Most employers … view this a serious theft and breach of trust from where there is no return,’’ he says.

“On a more personal level, there are also the very real health and wellbeing impacts of which to be aware when an employee is burning the candle at both ends.

“They could be putting themselves and their work colleagues at significant risk.’’

Moonlighting habits

• One-in-10 white collar workers are performing multiple full-time jobs. This rises to one-in-six Gen Zs and one-in-seven Millennials, who say it’s necessary to save for property and cover the rising costs of essentials

• Nearly all (93 per cent) white collar workers with multiple full-time jobs perform their additional role on their primary employer’s time, with 65 per cent doing so regularly

• Those working multiple full-time jobs say they would only consider giving up their additional paid job if they earned an extra $51,500 or more in their primary job

• Most (79 per cent) of those with multiple full-time jobs have told their primary employer about their additional paid work. Twelve per cent say they plan to.

• Ninety-one per cent say a key reason they can hold down multiple paid jobs is because they use AI. The same number say they are so proficient at using AI that they plan to secure more additional paid jobs.

Source: Indeed