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Concerns are mounting within the public sector regarding employees secretly holding multiple jobs simultaneously, a practice often referred to as “polygamous working.” This phenomenon has reportedly become more common with the rise of remote work, although it can violate employment contracts and may be illegal in certain cases. According to the Cabinet Office, since 2016, a national anti-fraud initiative has uncovered 301 instances of such dual employment among public sector workers, recovering £1.35 million in wrongly paid salaries. Notably, a council employee was recently convicted of fraud after working full-time at two different London councils.
One individual who experienced holding multiple jobs in secret is Imtiaz Shams. During a gap year, Imtiaz worked as a finance assistant in the public sector for £16,000 annually, using the money to fund university fees. At the same time, he maintained a second private sector job without his employer’s knowledge. Reflecting on this, he explained, “My job was boring. I automated a lot of stuff on Excel. I was on Reddit all day.” To break the monotony, he took a side contract, earning some extra income and helping automate systems elsewhere. Though acknowledging the ethical grey area, Imtiaz justified his choice due to inadequate pay: “I shouldn’t have worked there but I wasn’t paid well enough to feel bad. That’s why I left.” Now working in tech, he encourages his employees to pursue external interests, emphasizing the impact low salaries have on public sector workers.
The legal landscape around polygamous working remains complex. Employment lawyer Kaajal Nathwani describes it as a “new phenomenon,” gaining popularity through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. While not inherently illegal or fraudulent, holding multiple secret jobs can breach employment contracts prohibiting outside work, potentially leading to dismissal or prosecution. Nathwani highlights that such behavior may violate the implied trust and confidentiality expected in employment, especially if the additional roles hinder an individual’s ability to perform their primary job effectively. She distinguishes polygamous working from moonlighting, which typically involves a secondary job outside normal working hours.
From a public sector perspective, this issue is taken seriously due to the potential misuse of taxpayers’ money. The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) works to identify inconsistencies by cross-referencing payroll, pension, and benefits data. Barnet Council, a pilot for the NFI, successfully prosecuted an individual for holding two full-time council jobs simultaneously, describing the practice as a “waste of taxpayers’ money.” Cabinet member Simon Radford stressed that fraudulent dual employment will not be tolerated, regardless of the worker’s seniority. Public trust is at stake, with government officials emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. The growing scrutiny combined with expanded data-matching efforts signals increased challenges for those attempting to conceal multiple concurrent public sector roles, especially with the continuing rise of remote working
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