Comments on: What is wrong with taking a second job?

By: Newcastle Under Lyme Jobs

Newcastle Under Lyme Jobs — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:53:30 +0000

I’m not sure it is correct to say that British people would never think of having two jobs. I know plenty of British people juggling two jobs to make ends meet.

By: Tesco Vacancies

Tesco Vacancies — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:56:43 +0000

Having lived in the UK all my life, I know for sure that the british people would never think of having 2 jobs. However, I have come across many asians who seem to be quite comfortable working 2 jobs at a time. It’s normal for those who work hard.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:20:21 +0000

There is nothing wrong with taking a second job…or a third job. I have several jobs. One is my professional job in banking. That is a risky sector to be in right now so I have a work at home job and a direct selling business. I don’t make a lot of money from either right now but if I lost my job and invested more time they are available. Now, they both provide me with a little additional emergency fund money.

By: David @ PYF

David @ PYF — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:05:29 +0000

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking a second job.

If there’s an open position, business should pick whoever is most qualified for the role – regardless of if the applicant has one job or three jobs.

If they’re incapable of handling multiple jobs, that would show itself over time.

I don’t get why some people are so against a second job.

By: Yana

Yana — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:50:03 +0000

No, that isn’t morally or ethically wrong, but the question isn’t what I’d call straight. What one does with his money, and with his life, is more significant in determining a comfortable financial position than how much money comes in. Can you answer what is “basic” or what is “enough”? It totally depends on the person.

Personally, I think it is very wrong for anyone to have to take a second job for subsistence. One *real* job should be enough. Anyone can do things on the side of his primary employment. And those who actually get insufficient income from their employment ought to take into account the cost of that employment. If you value your money, time and the idea that waste is a bad thing, you do not commute. You do not have multiple automobiles, as in supporting an automobile for the sake of a second job (like a spouse’s job). For people who don’t earn lots of money to literally waste, it is not appropriate to do these things. And for those who do, it is still something to think about. I think people rarely think of the high cost of certain employment.

By: Bzzbzz

Bzzbzz — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:24:57 +0000

I understand your point from an employer’s point of view and also from a mercenary employee’s perspective. I don’t think you are addressing the ethical concerns some people hold for others.
You are assuming axiomatically that attaining a position indicates that you are by definition harder working and more qualified than the rest of the workforce. That simply isn’t true: other members of the workforce may simply not have found out about the position or have yet to apply (possibly because they are applying elsewhere.)
That said, I think there is an argument to be made for the increased productivity resulting from the immediate occupation of available positions.
The underlying question is how comfortable we are individually with the unequal distribution of resources. Very few people judge one another harshly when they are simply struggling to meet their necessities. On the other hand, when second jobs are not taken to meet bare subsistence but to subsidize extravagances.
How would you answer the question if it is framed in this way:
Is it morally or ethically wrong for a person to take a second job that will furnish them with purely expendable income if it would otherwise have gone to the next applicant, who the prospective employee knew to be more qualified and would be using the income for subsistence?

Most people resort to evasions given this dilemma, asserting it is unrealistic, the other applicant would already have a job, etc..
But taken as it is, what is your answer?

By: Hot Pack Secrets

Hot Pack Secrets — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:04:51 +0000

Here in mexico, everyone has a second or third job. So nothing is wrong with more than one job. Do what you have to do to feed your family.

By: Abby

Abby — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:00:22 +0000

As a broke recent grad, I found myself working two jobs. When my co-workers found out, it made for hot gossip. Stupid me, I quit the second gig – even though I really needed it to repay student loan debt and make ends meet.

It wasn’t moral or ethical considerations that prompted gossip – it was more like “what’s wrong with her that she can’t magically pay for everything with this one modest salary?” I should have held my head up high and erased that debt when I had free time. As you say, they’re my 168 hours!

By: Green Panda

Green Panda — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:54:07 +0000

You’re not stopping qualified people from applying and the added income can help the economy.As Paul mentioned, competition can also improve productivity, which in turn helps the economy.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:27:49 +0000

Amen! Competition in the worker pool drives better productivity. Everyone should be encouraged to work hard. That is much better for our society and our economy than this economic stimulus nonsense the government wants to shove down our throats.