Ask Deb: What do you think about double-dipping?

Hi Deb:

A few months ago, a recruiter approached me on LinkedIn. I was not actively looking for a new role. Still, the position she was trying to fill was intriguing, and the company was a leader in the industry, so I decided to proceed with the interview process. I received an offer fairly quickly, for 50% more than what I was making at the time. I accepted the offer. But, I never gave notice to my current company. Not only was I close to being fully vested in the generous 401(k) plan at Company A, I also thought that I  would try doing both jobs to see if it was feasible. I’ve been “double-dipping” for nearly 8 months now. I have two full-time salaries, two comprehensive benefits packages, and two bosses. At first, it wasn’t difficult to maintain the two roles, but the further I get into the second role, the more unwieldy it’s becoming. There are pros and cons to this situation, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. What would you advise?

Thanks,

Jill

Hi Jill:

Thank you for writing. Aside from the fact that working two full-time jobs is becoming overwhelming, I’d encourage you to consider the potential long-term damage this could do to your career. You’re holding down two roles, which means you’re probably not doing a great job at either of them. I imagine you’re working off of two different company laptops and juggling a Tetris-like schedule. How long will this be sustainable? Multiple meetings, calls, one-on-ones with different bosses, managing twice as many projects with six different directions and scopes? 

In addition, you must be spending an excessive amount of energy just ensuring that you stay under the radar at both companies. And, although this situation is likely not illegal, it could have devastating consequences. You could find yourself being terminated for cause by one or both employers and potentially being denied unemployment benefits. But really, what concerns me here is the lack of integrity on your part. Yes, I realize that companies do shady stuff with employees all the time, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it in turn. And the world is a very small place; it would be so easy for either company to discover what’s going on. It would take only a few clicks of the keyboard. Holding two full-time roles at once is probably not going to end well—it’s a recipe for burnout, and it’s exhausting. If and when you’re found out, the damage to your brand could be irreversible.

Since you asked for it, my advice is to give notice to Company A and focus on performing at the best of your ability at Company B. 

Best wishes,

Deb