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Working Two Full-Time Jobs In Canada – Right Or Wrong?

There are no legal implications in Canada if you work two jobs provided that you are physically and mentally able.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether or not working two full-time jobs in Canada is right or wrong. Every individual has unique circumstances and must weigh the pros and cons of taking on a second job in order to make the best decision for themselves. That said, there are some things to consider when making this decision, which we will explore in this post. Are you considering working two full-time jobs in Canada? Read on for some tips!

When immigrants come to Canada, they often have to work two or more jobs in order to make a living. Is this right? Or is it putting too much stress on them? In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of working multiple jobs in Canada. In most provinces or territories in Canada, working two full-time jobs is possible inasmuch as you can effectively perform your job descriptions.

You should be aware that a full-time job in Canada will require you to work for 40 hours weekly, with exclusion to overtime requests by your employer. Your employer will have to pay for your overtime.

On a daily basis, full-time workers work for 8 hours, which is equivalent to 40 hours per week. Being engaged in a full-time job in Canada won’t restrict other Canadian companies or employers from hiring you for another full-time job.

However, if your intention is to work two full-time jobs in Canada (whether as a side hustle of paid employment), keep in mind that you will have 2 different employers who have diverse job roles and demands that need execution.

Pros And Cons Of Working Two Full-time Jobs In Canada

The items on your job description should be perfectly carried out in order to satisfy your employer and avoid having issues with him/her. Thus, when you have two full-time jobs, each of your employers will expect you to work for 8 hours daily. This makes you vulnerable to stress since you need to work for 16 hours during the weekdays.

Additionally, Canada’s temporary workers and permanent workers are not restricted to work only one full-time job.

No law has been enforced against Canadian workers who work longer than their standard hours. This renders it allowable for you to work two full-time jobs under different Canadian employers even though it is very unsafe and unhealthy. Therefore, you are urged not to overwork yourself so that you won’t end up spending your wages or salaries on severe health issues, which may result in death.

Factors to consider before deciding to Work two full-time Jobs in Canada

Here are some factors that require your consideration if you want to work two full-time jobs in Canada.

  • Taxation
  • Your health status
  • The moonlighting policy of your employer.
  • Considering the conflict of interest.

How Two full-time jobs affect taxation in Canada

The tax rates involved for working two full-time jobs in Canada under different employers are incredibly high and unfavorable. Think carefully about the sum of money you will have left with you after taxation.

You may need to do some calculations on the total money that would be lost to tax. You can then decide if it is beneficial to you or not.

Never think of evading tax payments. In getting lower tax rates, you need to fill in the TD1 (Personal Tax Credits Return) form and issue it to your new employer.

Your employer will have to keep the TD1 form among your other credentials. The TD1 form is used to ascertain the tax rate that would be removed from an employee’s wage/salary.

There are various kinds of TD1 forms in Canada. This includes federal, provincial, or territorial Personal Tax Credits Return forms. All provinces or territory in Canada has its own TD1 forms, which are unique to its employees.

Moreover, if you intend to be an employee for a company or as an independent contractor (such as an attorney, consultant, engineer, etc), you might need to calculate your total income as you complete your Internal Revenue Service tax form/W-4 form for the new job. You can do this through an online IRS calculator to know the value of your tax liability.

As an alternative, you can get counseling from an accountant or tax professional. They will inform you of the number of exemptions that you need to file. Also, you will be advised if you need more funds withheld to cover the taxes due on your total income.

Evading tax in Canada is against the law

Tax evasion is considered a serious offense and can subject you to criminal charges and substantial implications.

Working overtime affects your health status

As humans, we are not machines or robots. Hence, you are bound to get tired and stressed from working extensively. This has several adverse effects on your health.

Stress occurs when your body reacts to a change or increase in demand. It usually results in severe headache, fatigue, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart illnesses, among others. Such ailments are capable of reducing your work productivity, which can make you lose both jobs.

You should only think to work two full-time jobs if you are medically fit to work for long hours with short rests. Moreover, you need to consider the stress and expense of traveling to and from your job locations.

The moonlighting policy of your employer

Endeavor to find out if your current employer allows its employees to do moonlighting. Some Canadian employers do not authorize their staff to work a second job. You can source the validity of this information from your company’s HR manager.

Considering the conflict of interest against working two full-time jobs

Be careful not to cause a conflict of interest by signing another job contract from a Canadian company or employer.

No matter if you’re taking a part-time or full-time job as your second employment, your decision is likely to make your first employer express a conflict of interest. You are advised not to apply or take jobs from a company that is in competition with your first job.

If the employer gets to know that you are working with their competitors, you might lose both jobs or get sued for certain reasons.

Employers do not want their competitors to have access to their company’s files, data, applied strategies & practices, and other significant information. Therefore, hiring you would pose a threat to the employer.

Loyalty and Community of Interest

With a second job, your loyalty or community of interest might be called into question. “Community of interest” simply means, whether your values closely aligned with either job or is it difficult to justify why you’re employed in two different types of jobs.

For instance, if you’re handling the position of a manager or supervisor on your primary job, yet your second job is in a union shop and you’re asked to join the union, working both jobs could be a problem.

It has never been heard of for a supervisor to also work a union job because this type of conflict raises questions about where you stand on the labor-management front. And if your co-workers find out you have a divided loyalty, it will be practically impossible to have collegiate working relationships on either job.

What About the Gig Economy?

If you are considering working as an independent contractor, potential conflicts of interest may also arise. With the gig economy gaining popularity each day, or by the service, taking up a second job doesn’t mean you are working for another employer.

Gigs or independent-contractor-type work for projects or on-demand services are essentially jobs that give you the opportunity to be your own boss, dictating when, how, and where you want to work.

Gigs are known for making work portable, if you have a primary job that is steady, the allure of gigs that permit you to work from anywhere may not be the appeal factor. But working on-demand jobs, such as driving for Uber, can present other challenges as a second job.

For instance, if your primary job requires you to be on-call, if you’re driving an Uber passenger, it could be difficult to immediately report to your primary job.

Conclusively, ensure that having two full-time jobs will not affect your job focus, physical strength, family life, health, leisure time, enjoyment of life, etc.

It is in your best interest to search for a full-time job that pays higher wages for workers’ overtime. So, you will only have to do more over time in your current workplace.

FAQ About Working Two Full-Time Jobs in Canada

What is a full-time job in Canada?

One way to explain what is a full-time job in Canada is to examine the Statistics Canada definition. According to Statistics Canada, “full time for an individual is typically considered as 30 hours or more per week”. This includes self-employed people who work full time. The number of hours worked per week can vary by industry and profession.

Is it legal to work 2 full-time jobs in Canada?

The short answer is yes. It makes sense to go for two jobs when you are unemployed or underemployed because it can help you make ends meet. Legal experts advise that working too much may jeopardize your health, but taking on a part-time job while holding down another full-time one has no legal implications in Canada, provided that your employer is not violating any laws or regulations.

What are examples of Canadian full-time jobs?

Counter clerks, full-time crew members at a restaurant, security supervisors, medical laboratory technicians, full-time cashiers, personal support workers, etc.

Who can do full-time jobs in Canada?

  • Canadian citizens, that are of working age.
  • Canada’s permanent residents.
  • Certain visitors and temporary work permit holders in Canada.
  • International students during scheduled breaks or holidays.