Establishing trust is a vital part of a successful working relationship between you and your virtual assistant (VA).
That said, there’s a recent trend of remote workers working at least one other job behind the scenes – without telling their employers about it.
While working as a virtual assistant in your company, they could also be a virtual receptionist for another.
Obviously, juggling several jobs can lead to a sharp decline in your virtual assistant’s performance and reliability issues. At worst, it could even lead to legal and ethical issues, especially if they’re working for a competitor.
If you suspect your virtual assistant may be working multiple jobs, here are some signs to watch out for – and what to do about it.
Frequent Delays in Responses
A common sign your virtual assistant is working multiple jobs is the sudden delay in responding to your messages.
Of course, occasional delays in their replies are understandable with how unreliable Philippine internet is sometimes.
However, if you notice it takes hours, even days, for your VA to respond to your messages or emails, that could be a red flag.
Sudden Drop in the Quality of Their Work
Working multiple jobs often means your VA can’t put as much effort into their tasks as they used to.
If your VA constantly misses deadlines, submits subpar work, or makes more errors than usual, these could be signs they’re overwhelmed with multiple jobs or tasks.
They may also be more hesitant to take on new responsibilities if they’re already at max capacity.
Long Periods of Inactivity During Work Hours
Remote work introduced the concept of time-tracking software to many companies.
These apps monitor and record the amount of time your virtual assistant spends on their tasks. Additionally, they often have a screen capture function that enables you to see what your VA is doing in real time.
Thus, a great way to determine whether your virtual assistant is working multiple jobs is by checking their recent screenshots.
If you’ve noticed they’re spending a lot of time idle, it could be a sign that they’re working on another job during their shift.
Vague or Suspicious Excuses
Transparency is crucial to cultivating trust in the remote workplace.
VAs covering up their commitments to other jobs often provide vague or suspicious reasons for their delays or unavailability.
For instance, they might say that “they currently have a heavy workload” – even though you haven’t assigned many or complex tasks to them.
Or, they might say “They have a personal matter to attend to” yet refuse to provide more context when invited to an important meeting.
Clear Signs of Burnout
Although burnout isn’t exclusive to employees working multiple jobs, they’re more susceptible to it due to their increased workload.
Common signs of burnout include increased stress, sudden irritability, or decreased enthusiasm at work.
What Can You Do About This?
Here are some things you can do if you suspect your virtual assistant is working multiple jobs:
Communicate With Them Directly
A sudden decline in your VA’s performance doesn’t always mean they’re working another job behind your back. Sometimes, it can be due to personal reasons or a heavier workload.
The best way to know for sure is to check on them and discuss the matter directly.
Set a private meeting with your VA and approach the matter with curiosity rather than accusation.
During this meeting, have an honest conversation about their current workload and seek clarification about their recent performance.
Understand Their Perspective
There are several reasons for VAs to juggle multiple clients.
For many, working one job just isn’t enough to pay their bills. For others, working several jobs at once helps them learn new skills and gain experience in several fields faster.
Knowing the reason/s behind your VA’s actions helps you get a more rounded view of their situation and what you can do to retain them.
Work on a Viable Solution With Your VA
Discovering that your virtual assistant has another job can be frustrating.
However, if you still want to continue working with your VA and vice versa, negotiate a solution that works for both parties.
This could include allowing them to work flexible hours, adjusting their workload, or emphasizing which tasks they must prioritize.
Put Stipulations in Place Regarding Working Multiple Jobs
To avoid such situations, you should be more clear about your stance regarding working multiple jobs in your employee handbook.
Include clauses about how their other job must not interfere with their responsibilities and include policies requiring employees to disclose any secondary employment.
Having these in place prevents conflicts of interest and can dissuade them from working with direct competitors.
Consider Giving Your VA a Raise
As mentioned previously, the number one factor employees work multiple jobs is due to economic reasons.
Thus, if you want to incentivize your VA to stick with you, consider giving them a raise.
Doing so helps them remain financially stable and increases their job satisfaction and loyalty to your company.
Sure You’re Your VA’s Only One?
Working multiple jobs, sometimes simultaneously, has been an increasing trend in remote work lately, allowing many to earn more in one shift.
However, this can lead to inefficiency and reliability issues as they juggle multiple tasks while keeping it a secret from their employers.
Aside from the tips above, you can also ensure your VA only works for you by working with a trusted outsourcing company – like Remote Staff.
Click here to see our list of candidates for virtual assistants, admin assistants, and more. Good luck!
John Carlo Pagsolingan is a carefree yet hardworking writer with aspirations of becoming a teacher in the future. He believes that remote working isn’t just a substitute; but is a legitimate alternative to face-to-face work. Learn more as he writes about the advantages of remote work and tips for aspiring remote workers.
