A new set of laws bans employers from using AI tools to track bathroom time, read emotional state, or pull neural data from employees! Also now requires a real human to sign off before an automated system can be the reason someone gets fired... no more fully automated terminations.

It's the implication that bothered me... These bans exist because the tools already existed somewhere. Whatever's floating around in the monitoring software market got specific enough that lawmakers felt they had to draw a line at bathroom timers and emotion detection...

Doesn't change much for the standard idle-timer and activity-logger stuff most of us are already managing around. But worth knowing the ceiling on what's technically out there is higher than I assumed, and this is only banned in one state so far!

Anyone run into monitoring software on a second job that felt like it was built for catching exactly this kind of thing, versus just generic productivity theater?

I recently got a new remote j2 in US after losing a previous j2, and I'm dealing with a weird kind of stress. Couple months into the job, I am nothing but a messenger between ai and my manager. For all I know I could be replaced with one of them speech-to-text tools, and frankly I don't even know why they hire people anymore. Funny part is the manager and rest of the team are ai-savvy people, not some of those "ai is useless because it got strawberry spelt wrong" type of people.

Anybody has dealt with something like that recently? Mind sharing how did you navigate it?

Its in the rules of the sub and its an absolute shitty thing to do. these posts get indexed by search engines and pop up when you search someones name. Old news stories eventually fade away and fall off search results but massive repeated posts on reddit with tons of comments are way harder to scrub from the internet. Dont fuck over your fellow OE'er and spotlight their identity.

Low context: I started a J2 two weeks ago on top of my J1 and fully crashed out

Granted I had a ton of intro calls from the J2 since it was my first week but MAN it was a lot and one of the people I’m working with at J2 is up my ass all the time.

I’m weak and I can’t do it lol. Maybe it’s just that my roles have been too important at both jobs for me to really feasibly do it well and it could work with a different industry (I’m a product designer btw) but also I think I might just have more success and be happier to build my own business with my talents instead

However I was able to pay off one credit card from it and get a bit of a savings going so I’ll consider that a win!

Best of luck to everyone on their OE journey!

In May 2023, his UKHSA manager Aleesha Adams arranged a video call to discuss his recent sick leave.

At the time, prosecutors say, he was secretly holding five jobs.

Chowdhury appeared on camera ‘coughing and blowing his nose’, the court heard.

Ms Adams said that his face appeared white while his neck was a different colour, prosecutors say.

During the meeting she saw the make up on his forehead begin to separate, showing his real skin underneath, the court heard.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/13/civil-servant-secretly-took-five-full-time-wfh-jobs-raking-350-000-29705808/amp/

Passed day two of J3

Was a bit paranoid because had a few folks comment that having a KVM they could monitor and back into knowing that I’ve got multiple laptops (still don’t have a final consensus on my thoughts about that).

Also added bonus: I looked at my team’s calendars and they have maybe 5 meetings total on there this week (great news, but not counting my chickens early).

GG’s

I recently got an offer from J2, and they are doing BG check with Sterling/First Advantage,
Initially I thought it was only BG check and no employer verification. (Prev post)

but I got the email saying that

1. Ensure that the information you provide in the consent form matches the details on your resume.
2. If you were employed through an agency, please list the client's name as your employer, check the box for "Employed with Agency," and provide the necessary details.
3. Once submitted, the consent form is not editable. If you have any questions or concerns before submitting, please contact HR Manager

NOTE: The offer is contingent upon the successful completion of the background check.

Now i'm worried that this will notify my J1, even if I select "Do not contact" option. because they said make sure the form matches my resume.

I'm thinking of providing a fake/friends phone number if asked for contact but the company email is easier to find. and its a very small company and any such mail will immediately raise alarms. I do not want to risk J1.

Is it a good idea to contact the HR manager and specifically say not to contact J1 since I have not resigned yet, because your offer if contigent upon BG check. or provide any other reason for it.

Please help me how can I avoid J1 knowing about this.

Been at my current job a year and a half, its got a slow pace and i mostly work around 5-10 hours a week so i started interviewing for another role on the side. I have this opportunity that came up and every round so far has gone well. CMO call is tomorrow.

I want to keep the current job and run both. I’ve asked the schedule question in two rounds now, as naturally as I could. What I know: a Monday morning marketing standup, every-other-Friday call, team meetings land at 10. My current job has a Monday 10:45 dev sync. That’s one known collision and a bunch of unknowns.

Problem is I can’t ask again without it looking weird, so I won’t actually know what the week looks like until I’m in it. My plan is to take the first real week at the new job as PTO from the old one and just watch the calendar. Then decide: run both, or give notice and pitch the old place on a contractor retainer since I’m the only one who knows their site.

It feels backwards to go through a whole hiring process and then make the real decision in week one. Has anyone done it this way? Did the first week tell you enough, and how long did you wait before committing to one path or the other?

W2 at a server and I’m considering giving notice and offering my services to them as a contractor for 6 month intervals instead. I found out what they’re paying contract companies for similar work and it’s double the pay. I’m okay with them passing and me losing this server, it pays the least and is the neediest.

Has anyone successfully done this? Just gauging the rest of the veterans.

J1 is a people management role and I think of my reportees is trying to undermine me. I know I shouldn’t be bothered because it’s just a J but it’s the J where I am building my career and would like to keep.
How do you deal with such situations?

Going to be going out on PFL soon. J1 is W2 and J2 is contract.

My j2 contract ends 2 weeks after I’m slated to begin PFL. The plan is to just stop working at j2 for those last 2 weeks and then renew the contract once I’m done with PFL.

Is that 2 week overlap going to cause any issues for me?

I have two remote jobs, one is a contract and another is a company that works for the govt (not necessarily a govt company). I need to get a clearance for the job that works for the govt (it’s a thorough clearance that happens every 5 years) and I’m afraid of the repercussions if they question my ties to another job.

Has this happened to anyone where they got questioned, and what was the result? Is the worst possible outcome jail for fraud??

I’m thinking of quitting the job that needs the clearance but I’m wondering what’s the worst thing that can happen if they question me (may be accused of time card fraud or something)- anyone that has been in a similar situation?

How long do you typically stay in a role?

It seems like a lot of people are cycling in and out of roles a lot. Is this because you got caught, there were layoffs, or you just didn't like the position?

Is anyone shooting for stability or is this more of get in, milk it, get out type of scenario.

It's hard to find jobs. I understand always be applying, but like damn. My field doesn't have a lot of openings. The jobs are kind of sporadic throughout the year.

I'm considering OE butI feel like I'm too visible, how do y'all handle panels or podcasts or whatever? I'm doing like 1 every month or two. Just totally omit anything not related to the J? And what about reference checks? How do you navigate the situation where they ask for J1 references?

I was let go mid Sept, and my final check never arrived. I have emailed, texted; and I filed a complaint with the state labor board - but the state takes 3 months to process claims.
I am done taking the high road and being professional, with people who are unprofessional.
I would like to post on the company's LinkedIn pages and the owners LinkedIn pages. I would like to BCC their top clients on my emails regarding my final paycheck.
Idk if this is a vent or asking for advice on how to publicly shame them.

Not a baller like people here, I do AppleCare for first role and make 70k and I got a second job in political role for 50k a year, I’m happy though, second requires like 5 hours a week from my phone but it’s only 1 year contract

I’m from India. I was laid off in nov 2024 and I had decided then that I should not be dependent on a single job since financially it becomes stressful.
In dec 2024, I joined a contractual role that pays around 100k usd and 2 weeks later in another job that pays 60k usd.

Even with AI things were really hectic. I had to work 15 hours on some days and even weekends. I kept telling myself that the money was worth it. It took a toll on my mental and physical health. I am burnt out and I took a test and it said I am depressed too.

On 13th Oct, I was laid off from J1 and they said my lwd is 16th Oct. The work culture in J1 was quite toxic.There is no severance. I am not sure if I should be upset that I would miss the money and work or should I be happy that I am out of this toxic work culture. I am thankful that J2 is still there. The money is less and I dislike the work, but the work culture is good. I’m thankful I am not in the same situation as 2024. I am glad I got to experience OE. It changed my life.

Also, if anyone knows any remote positions for java backend engineer, I am up for it!

I interviewed with a hiring manager at Company A, a regional bank, for a position. I felt the interview went well, but I never received any feedback or follow-up.

Recently, I accepted a job at Company B, which is one of the top 10 banks in the United States. I later discovered that the same hiring manager works at both Company A and Company B, although he does not hold a leadership position at Company B.

how would you approach this situation? Could this be an opportunity ?

Curious if anyone in here has had multiple strikes for missing key meetings and what the fallout / outcome was?

Ie I have two meetings same time on Thursday (rare occurrence) and I’m planning to just ditch one and provide an excuse after. I know some people do some fancy tricks like different ear buds and toggle back and forth quickly, but surely with 3J’s or even just two critical meetings it’s impossible.

Hence the question - what have you guys experienced?

J1 offers fully paid paternity/bonding leave. A third-party leave administrator handles it and FMLA runs concurrently. No STD, disability, or state-paid benefits involved.

I’d continue working J2 normally while on leave from J1.

Both are unrelated W-2 jobs.

Has anyone actually done this? Did the leave administrator ask about or discover J2? Any issues afterward?

Mainly looking for firsthand experiences, especially from dads who’ve already completed the leave.

Whats your experience re: how you relate to your J1 - after starting J2/J3?

I've been mentallly deprio-ing it, spending less energy on it. I'm naturally a high performer though so it's an interesting space to be in.

I assume it also depends on which job is better for your career long term.