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Government targets hidden multiple job holders in public sector
UK authorities are intensifying efforts to detect and prosecute public employees secretly working two or more jobs simultaneously, a practice known as polygamous working. Since 2016, the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) has uncovered 301 such cases, recovering £1.35 million in misused salaries.
How the scheme works and why it's growing
Polygamous working involves employees holding multiple jobs without disclosing them to employers. Remote work has made it easier to conceal, as staff can juggle roles without physical oversight. While not inherently illegal, it often violates employment contracts, breaches trust, and risks data protection violations.
Employment lawyer Kaajal Nathwani of Osborne & Wise noted that contracts increasingly prohibit secondary jobs, though historically, such clauses were rare. She distinguished it from moonlighting, which typically involves a disclosed side job outside core working hours.
Real cases and financial impact
In 2024-25 alone, the NFI identified 13 polygamous working cases, saving £113,000. One recent prosecution involved a council worker convicted of fraud for holding two full-time roles at separate London councils, costing taxpayers £10,000.
Barnet Council, a pilot participant in the NFI, has ongoing fraud cases targeting polygamous workers. Cabinet member Simon Radford called the practice an abuse of public funds, emphasizing zero tolerance regardless of an employee's seniority.
"If someone is polygamously working, we will prosecute them. It doesn't matter if they're at the top or bottom of the hierarchy."
Simon Radford, Barnet Council
Worker perspectives: Exploitation or survival?
Imtiaz Shams, a former public sector finance assistant, admitted to secretly working a second job during his gap year. He automated tasks in his primary role, freeing time for a private-sector contract. Though he acknowledges the wrongdoing, he blamed low public-sector wages for his decision.
"I shouldn't have worked there, but I wasn't paid well enough to feel bad. That's why I left."
Imtiaz Shams, tech CEO and former public sector worker
Shams now leads a tech startup and encourages his employees to pursue outside interests, arguing that underpaid public workers are unfairly targeted. He questioned whether higher-ranking officials face similar scrutiny.
Government response and future measures
Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons condemned the practice as a betrayal of public trust. The NFI now cross-references payroll, pension, and benefits data across 14 government departments to flag inconsistencies. Participation in its Fraud Hub database, which tracks dismissed fraudsters, has risen 30%.
Shadow Chancellor Alex Burghart criticized the government's oversight, accusing Labour of presiding over a "bloated system that operates in secrecy."
Despite remote work lowering barriers to polygamous working, authorities are expanding data-matching efforts to curb the trend. Radford dismissed stereotypes about public-sector productivity, asserting that lax workers are increasingly held accountable.
Broader implications
Public-sector roles, such as social work, demand full attention to safeguard vulnerable populations. A 2023 case saw a social worker employed by three councils simultaneously, ordered to repay one employer. Experts warn that divided focus risks service quality and data security.
As scrutiny grows, employees attempting to conceal multiple jobs may find it harder to evade detection. The Cabinet Office pledged to "target these risks even more aggressively" through expanded data-sharing.
