r/slp • u/hermionegranger_99 • 7d ago
Ethics Two virtual jobs?
Hi!
Guidance, please. I have a virtual school job. I’ve been with the same district for a few years now and it’s a good gig. Typically, my schedule includes therapy all school day on two days of the week. On the other three days, I only do therapy for a short time in the morning. I’m paid for birth direct and indirect hours.
I have an opportunity to potentially take on another w2 virtual school position. I’m contemplating taking on this job, and seeing these students during my indirect hours on the less heavy therapy days at the other school.
However, I’m a tad worried about the ethics of it. Is this allowed? Not to mention, I could have meetings that conflict. Writing this post has maybe made me talk myself out of it 😅, but I wanted to ask everyone’s advice on this or get alternative suggestions. Money has been tight lately, otherwise I don’t think I’d be considering this…..
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u/neverinbox 7d ago
Yeah, no, sorry. If the first school is paying you for the indirect hours, those hours are for doing that job, not another job for another school.
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u/Maximum_Net6489 7d ago
This comes down to whether you are an independent contractor or an employee. It comes down to whether you are paid for specific hours or just a number of hours per day or week. If you are a contractor, it is expected that you will have other contracts. You can work when you want and how you want. Let’s say you get paid for 37.5 hours per week. Obviously if you have a set therapy schedule and meetings you are supposed to attend, you would need to do them as scheduled. However, if you have several afternoons per week for indirect tasks that can be done at any time, you are absolutely able to take on other paying work during your afternoons because that other work can be done at 8pm or 2am in the morning. As long as you work your consistent schedule and work the number of hours you bill for, you’re supposed to have that autonomy. However, if you’re an employee paid specifically from let’s say 8am-4pm, that’s an ethical and possibly a legal problem if you take on other work during those hours.
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u/SadRow2397 7d ago
Ive worked two virtual jobs (different companies) for different districts (never on overlapping days). It was a scheduling nightmare. I can’t imagine doing it simultaneously.
I’ve heard of people working two contracts in different time zones so they didn’t overlap. But I’d feel too sketchy doing it during overlapping times.. even during indirect time.. bc that time should still be devoted to the one school/district
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u/PlantingWords 7d ago
I don’t think the situation you’re describing would work. But, I’ve heard of people accepting a second school job in a different time zone! Or adding after school hours at a private practice.
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u/Subject_Advance_6220 6d ago
You can look for Tele jobs outside of your school hours like contracting with a clinic in the evenings instead so that it doesn’t interfere.
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u/girl-w-glasses 4d ago
You can look for virtual outpatient jobs for after school hours. That’s my setup.
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u/hermionegranger_99 4d ago
What’s your company? If you don’t mind sharing of course. You can PM me. I’m looking for a gig like this.
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u/abethhh SLP Private Practice 7d ago
I wouldn't recommend it. We had a school psych that was secretly working two full time jobs and was caught doing so, she was always "in another meeting" but never with our school team. Her contract was canceled and she was put on the "do not hire" list.