People are now taking on extra, freelance work to keep their bosses off their backs. What’s the worst that could happen? Two bosses, two email addresses, and two computers? As many knowledge workers have been working remotely for more than two years, away from their boss’s scrutiny, a growing number of employees are taking up second full-time employment under the table.

Some workers opt for overemployment remote jobs at the same time, and some are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars more per year as a result. In an era of mass layoffs, economic uncertainty, and a chronic disregard for worker well-being, a second job can give a safety net of extra income and experience, both of which are significant assets. Some workers opt for overemployment to recapture a sense of control or to avoid a system they believe has long exploited them.

Overemployment occurs when a person works two full-time jobs on two different computers at the same time. However, this isn’t a new phenomenon. According to an over-employed man in his late 30s in the US Bay Area, who goes by the moniker “Isaac” in the over-employment community, he’s been working two jobs for years and claims to have earned over $600,000. On the other hand, Isaac feels that those who can make the arrangement work legally and logistically will reap significant benefits.