Microsoft's Former VP Of HR Says Employers 'Don't Own Employees' Lives', Defends People Working Multiple Jobs

A former high-ranking executive from Microsoft MSFT has voiced his support for employees holding multiple remote jobs as long as their performance remains unaffected. This perspective challenges the traditional beliefs held by many in management roles.

What Happened: Chris Williams, a former Vice President of HR at Microsoft, has expressed his viewpoint on workers holding several jobs concurrently. Williams argues that as long as employees fulfill their expected performance levels, it should not matter if they hold multiple jobs.

Williams points out that the shift to remote work during the pandemic has enabled workers to pursue multiple job opportunities without commute or office distractions. He also mentions that many individuals, particularly in the lower third of the labor market, have customarily held more than one job to support themselves.

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Williams draws attention to the growth of an online community, Overemployed.com, where people exchange advice on managing multiple remote jobs. This viewpoint challenges the traditional managerial perspective that perceives an employee working multiple jobs as exploiting the system.

According to Williams, employers should prioritize an employee’s performance over their employment status. He suggests that if an employee is underperforming, it’s the employer’s responsibility to address the matter and hold them accountable. Conversely, if an employee’s performance is satisfactory, their additional employment should not be an issue.

Williams also cautions that managers’ reactions upon discovering employees working elsewhere can be harmful, potentially alienating high-performing employees. He encourages managers to acknowledge and learn from these “overachievers.”

Image Source – ClWill.com

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