Finance & Banking

Is It Really Cheating If It’s on Your Job? Why Bosses Are Cracking Down on “Polygamous” Workers

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Kashim Chowdhury, a civil servant in London, was charged with “dishonest” on his job and summoned into court docket in April 2025. His alleged crime was “polygamous working.” He’d been holding down three full-time authorities jobs on the similar time and was sharing his time, efforts, and dedication amongst them. Chowdhury has denied the fees.

This example isn’t distinctive to the U.Ok. Polygamous employees are working worldwide, juggling multiple full-time job with out informing their employers that they’re doing so. The observe has additionally been known as being “over-employed.”

Key Takeaways

“Polygamous working” is the act of an worker juggling multiple job concurrently with out letting the employers find out about it.
Polygamous employees usually cost each employers for a similar work hours.
A rise in polygamous employees has been blamed on the rise in distant work-from-home alternatives that largely started with the COVID-19 pandemic.
It isn’t a prison offense to carry down multiple job, however it may be thought-about a breach of contract with aggressive entities or throughout scheduled work hours.

Table of Contents

What Is Polygamous Working?

The rise in polygamous employees has been ascribed to a rise in distant work-from-home alternatives that largely started with the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that the variety of workers who worked from home greater than doubled from 2019 by way of 2023, rising from 5.7% to 13.8% within the U.S. alone. Their quantity elevated from about 9 million to greater than 22 million American employees.

Know-how that permits workers to work from a distance has performed a component as effectively. Such a work association makes it simple for workers to allocate their work hours to multiple firm or employer.

Necessary

The observe turns into polygamous when employees commit their hours concurrently.

“As remote work arrangements and flexible scheduling turn into extra widespread, many employees have chosen to carry down two or three jobs at a time for intervals overlapping their work dedication, normally with out the data of half or all the employers concerned,” in line with Kelsey Szamet, a accomplice at Kingsley Szamet Employment Attorneys in Encino, California.

Is Polygamous Working Unlawful?

It’s not unlawful to carry down multiple job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that 8.43 million U.S. employees held a number of jobs in 2024. Greater than half of them held part-time jobs along with a full-time employment function however about 376,000 of them devoted themselves to multiple full-time job. The Bureau defines full-time work as 35 hours or extra per week.

“There’s no specific legislation that prohibits the observe of holding down a number of employment positions except the exercise interferes with a sound contractual dedication,” Szamet says. “If an individual has signed an settlement that features exclusivity, conflict-of-interest, or confidentiality clauses, holding down a number of employments – particularly with aggressive entities or throughout scheduled work hours – might be thought-about a breach of contract with possible legal consequences.”

Is Polygamous Working Unethical?

The time period “polygamy” implies dishonest as a result of it denotes overlapping relationships. And the place there’s dishonest, there are sometimes those that are keen to assist make it doable. TikTok has launched movies offering perception into hacks equivalent to “mouse jiggling” that allow an worker to seem like busy on their laptop computer when, in reality, they’re servicing one other employer.

Reddit has additionally allegedly shared employees’ steerage about the way to attend two video conferences on the similar time utilizing a number of laptops.

Is that this unethical? “It will depend on the way it’s accomplished,” advises Brittany Truskowski, COO of Grand Canyon Legislation Group in Arizona. “If anyone is on the market with a clear course of and doing the job competently, that’s one factor. If, nonetheless, they’re hiding it, gaming the system, or double-dipping on hours, that goes too far. The bigger drawback is belief, and as soon as that’s violated, it’s troublesome to restore.”

How Ought to Staff Deal with A number of Jobs?

Working multiple job is a monetary necessity for a great many People, and it’s not essentially a battle. You need to be at liberty to have a tendency bar on weekends to assist repay these faculty prices proper after you’re out of legislation faculty, have handed the bar, and are beginning a job with a legislation agency. The query is whether or not the positions compete with one another in any approach.

“Typically it means two full-time gigs and generally it’s freelancing or side hustles,” Truskowski says. She suggests that you simply ask your self, “Will I be capable to do each jobs effectively? Does my contract permit it? And, much more essential: Am I being truthful? If the reply is ‘I’m simply hoping no person notices,’ then it’s time to re-examine.”

“Transparency is crucial,” says Szamet. “It’s mandatory for people to evaluate their labor contracts to make sure adherence to stipulated insurance policies. In the event that they plan to tackle a second employment, it’s finest to tell their major employer of such an intention to keep away from any future misunderstandings or authorized points. They need to be sure that their work efficiency isn’t affected and never use their employer’s supplies, tools, or confidential info to carry out duties for one more firm.”

What Can Employers Do?

Employers have quite a few choices on the subject of defending themselves in opposition to polygamous workers. It may begin with sizing up the from-home-employment roles they provide. Are the tasks of those positions such that they don’t essentially must be full-time? You don’t wish to pay somebody whereas they’re really working for another person so that you may think about trimming hours so that you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Szamet means that employers can defend their companies in just a few methods:

Clearly defining expectations in employment contracts, together with exclusivity or conflict-of-interest clauses
Sharing secondary employment coverage info in handbooks or by way of the onboarding course of
Evaluating productiveness to find out whether or not employees are assembly set efficiency requirements
Addressing issues by way of correct HR channels if they think divided loyalty or misuse of firm assets
Initiating authorized motion or firing an worker if the worker breaches contractual phrases or moral practices

The Backside Line

Polygamous working isn’t a clear-cut problem. Holding down a second or third job might be understandably crucial for a lot of employees, however bosses definitely don’t wish to see their firms jeopardized in consequence. Open communication can keep away from battle and rivalry, notably earlier than an employer-employee relationship is formally entered into.

Contemplate telling your would-be boss should you work a second job or are occupied with doing so. You may wish to clarify your place on the problem to your would-be worker should you assume it should jeopardize your fir,m and what the results of such an motion can be.

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Finance & Banking

Fed’s ‘Beige Book’ Flashes Tariff Price Alarms

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Key Takeaways

Companies are passing tariff prices on to customers, based on the Federal Reserve’s “Beige E-book” report launched Wednesday.
A compilation of anecdotal reviews from across the nation confirmed larger tariff-related value pressures.
The report supplies some perception into whether or not U.S. customers can pay for many tariffs or if international exporters will shoulder the prices.

There’s much less “uncertainty” within the economic system today, and extra perception that larger costs are on the best way due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

That is based on the Federal Reserve’s “Beige E-book” report launched Wednesday. The report compiles anecdotes from leaders and enterprise homeowners within the banking system’s 12 regional districts. Companies reported widespread value will increase and passing a lot of these prices on to customers. The tariffs, which embody a 50% duty on most imported steel, seem to have hit development corporations and manufacturing tougher than different industries.

“In all twelve Districts, companies reported experiencing modest to pronounced enter value pressures associated to tariffs, particularly for uncooked supplies utilized in manufacturing and development,” the report stated. “Many corporations handed on no less than a portion of value will increase to customers by means of value hikes or surcharges, though some held off elevating costs due to clients’ rising value sensitivity, leading to compressed revenue margins.”

The report shed some mild on the continued debate about who will pay for Trump’s wide-ranging import taxes, that are raking in billions for the government each month.

Worth pressures have been sluggish to reach because the first wave of tariffs went into impact in March, however they had been evident within the authorities’s official inflation report for June. If the Beige E-book is something to go by, the pattern may speed up because the summer time continues.

“Contacts in a variety of industries anticipated value pressures to stay elevated within the coming months, growing the probability that client costs will begin to rise extra quickly by late summer time,” The report stated.

“Uncertainty” concerning the future remained a significant theme, however much less so than in current months. There have been 63 mentions of “unsure” or “uncertainty,” down from 80 in June. Total financial exercise “elevated barely” between Could and early July, however the outlook for the long run known as for flat development or a slight slowdown in most districts, the report stated.

The Fed has held off on slicing its key rate of interest this 12 months, much to the ire of Trump, due to considerations that decrease borrowing prices may set off a recent spherical of inflation. The newest report may encourage Fed officers’ reluctance to chop charges.

“The Beige E-book hints at a gentle enchancment within the economic system, whereas suggesting that the inflationary influence of tariffs is merely delayed, reinforcing the Fed’s affected person strategy,” Sal Guatieri, senior U.S. economist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a commentary.

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Finance & Banking

4 Tax Deductions in the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ You Can Take This Year

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

The ‘One Huge, Lovely Invoice’ launched a number of new tax deductions, a few of which is able to apply to the cash you are making this yr.
Below the brand new regulation, taxpayers can deduct most of what they earn in ideas and extra time, reducing the quantity they owe come subsequent tax season.
Many taxpayers who buy a U.S.-made automobile this yr can deduct the curiosity they are going to pay on their automotive mortgage.
Many taxpayers 65 or older will even get an additional deduction of $6,000.

You might be able to take new tax deductions if you file your taxes subsequent.

President Donald Trump signed the ‘One Huge, Lovely Invoice’ into regulation earlier this month. It expands Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and provides new tax deductions, a few of which is able to take impact in the course of the 2025 tax yr.

Deductions enable taxpayers to take away a part of their taxable revenue from their invoice, reducing the general quantity they owe. Listed here are essentially the most vital tax deductions added by the ‘Huge, Lovely Invoice’ that may be claimed on 2025 tax returns when filed early subsequent yr.

Table of Contents

Ideas

This deduction applies from tax years 2025 to 2028 and permits staff who sometimes obtain ideas, corresponding to waiters, bartenders, and hairstylists, to deduct certified ideas from their taxes.

Listed here are the main points:

Staff and most self-employed people qualify if they’re in occupations which have “usually and commonly” obtained ideas, on or earlier than Dec 31, 2024. The IRS will publish an inventory of qualifying occupations by Oct. 2, 2025.
The IRS defines “certified ideas” as voluntary money or ideas charged to clients or cash earned via a tip-sharing program.
Staff can deduct as much as $25,000 of their ideas yearly, whereas self-employed people can deduct as much as their yearly web revenue.
The deduction phases out for single taxpayers who make greater than $150,000 a yr and married taxpayers who make $300,000 collectively.
The deduction is offered for itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. If a taxpayer is married, they have to file collectively to assert the deduction.

Time beyond regulation

This deduction applies from tax years 2025 to 2028 and permits staff who obtain certified extra time pay to deduct something they make over their common pay price.

Listed here are the main points:

For instance, staff who obtain “time-and-a-half” extra time pay can deduct the “half” that’s past what they’d sometimes make.
Single staff can deduct as much as $12,500 of extra time yearly, and married staff can deduct as much as $25,000.
The deduction phases out for single taxpayers who make greater than $150,000 a yr and married taxpayers who make $300,000 collectively.
The deduction is offered for itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. If a taxpayer is married, they have to file collectively to assert the deduction.

Automotive Mortgage Curiosity

This deduction applies from tax years 2025 to 2028 and permits taxpayers to deduct curiosity from a lately bought, certified automobile made within the U.S.

Listed here are the main points:

Taxpayers can deduct the curiosity on a automobile mortgage that originated after December 31, 2024, in the event that they purchased the automobile for private use.
A certified automobile features a new automotive, minivan, van, SUV, truck, or bike that underwent remaining meeting within the U.S.
Taxpayers can deduct as much as $10,000 of the automotive mortgage curiosity every year.
The deduction phases out for single taxpayers who make greater than $100,000 a yr and married taxpayers who make $200,000 collectively.
The deduction is offered for each itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. The taxpayer should embody the Automobile Identification Quantity (VIN) on their tax return.

Older Individuals

This deduction applies from tax years 2025 to 2028 and gives taxpayers 65 and older with an additional $6,000 deduction.

Listed here are the main points:

Certified taxpayers can declare this further deduction along with the extra normal deduction they already obtain below current regulation.
In the event that they wish to declare this deduction for this tax yr, qualifying taxpayers will need to have turned a minimum of 65 someday in 2025.
Single senior taxpayers can deduct as much as $6,000 yearly, and married seniors can deduct as much as $12,000 collectively, so long as each spouses qualify.
The deduction phases out for single taxpayers who make greater than $75,000 yearly and married taxpayers who make $150,000 collectively.
The deduction is offered for itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. If a taxpayer is married, they have to file collectively to assert the deduction.

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Finance & Banking

Trump’s Support for the GENIUS Act Lifts Bitcoin, Crypto Stocks After Minor Hiccup

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Key Takeaways

President Donald Trump stated he expects the GENIUS Act to clear a key procedural hurdle Wednesday after the stablecoin invoice bumped into resistance a day earlier.
The value of Bitcoin climbed above $119,000, and shares of crypto firms like Circle and Coinbase improved in current buying and selling.
Trump stated on Reality Social he satisfied Republicans who voted with Democrats in blocking the invoice to reverse their place.
The GENIUS Act would create a framework for personal firms to problem stablecoins, a sort of crypto asset with its worth tied to a standard forex or different monetary asset such because the U.S. greenback.

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and different main cryptocurrencies traded greater Wednesday after President Donald Trump stated he expects the Home to go the GENIUS Act.

A key a part of “Crypto Week,” the Act would permit personal firms to problem stablecoins, one thing conventional finance companies equivalent to equivalent to JPMorgan (JPM) are making a play for already. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies which have their worth pegged to a different monetary asset, sometimes a standard forex just like the U.S. greenback.

Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle Web Group (CRCL) have been up 14% in current buying and selling, reversing course from Tuesday after a minor hiccup for the laws within the Home. Bitcoin, which set multiple price records in current days as a result of optimism round crypto week, climbed above $119,000 Wednesday after a fumble the day earlier than. Ether (ETHUSD), the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, and shares of cryptocurrency trade Coinbase (COIN) additionally rose.

The GENIUS Act failed a procedural vote after greater than a dozen Republicans joined Democrats in blocking the Act and two different crypto payments from reaching the Home flooring Tuesday. President Trump stated he met with the holdouts from his occasion and satisfied them to vary their minds.

“I’m within the Oval Workplace with 11 of the 12 Congressmen/ladies essential to go the GENIUS Act and, after a brief dialogue, they’ve all agreed to vote tomorrow morning in favor of the Rule,” Trump posted on Reality Social late Tuesday. “Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson was on the assembly by way of phone, and appears ahead to taking the Vote as early as potential.”

If the Home approves the GENIUS Act (separate from this procedural step), as passed by the Senate final month, the stablecoin invoice would transfer to Trump’s desk for signature.