Meet the overemployed 🤫

Hey there! Have you been wondering if you’re…underpaid? With annual reviews around the corner, ‘tis the season to know your worth.

So, I created a quiz that will help you find out whether you’re being underpaid. I’ll share some super helpful resources at the end, whether you’re underpaid or fairly paid!

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for companies that fairly compensate their workers—and readers like you who have the courage to ask for what you’re worth. 🤝

 1   Thousands of Starbucks workers go on strike ☕️

“No contract, no coffee.” On November 16, thousands of Starbucks baristas went on strike for improved wages, benefits, and bargaining rights, per Reuters. Their walkout coincided with Red Cup Day, a major revenue-boosting event for the chain and “also one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days” for workers. 

• FYI: Starbucks operates 9,000 US stores, yet only 3% have union representation. Unsurprising, considering Starbucks’ reputation for union-busting—even going so far as to withhold raises and benefits from unionized employees. 

As for the non-union employees? Earlier this November, Starbucks announced their hourly salary would increase by 3% starting in 2024. That’s cool…until you realize that 1) the chain made $9.37 billion this quarter and 2) the raise doesn’t cover the 3.2% yearly inflation rate. 

While the strike was a one-day affair, the fight is far from over. “I want to show the company that we’re the ones bringing the money,” said a shift supervisor to The New York Times. “And we can stop the money from coming in.” 

 2   Meet the ‘overemployed’ who juggle multiple remote jobs 🤹‍♀️

Is one full-time, six-figure salary job enough? For the “overemployed,” that answer would be “Nope.” Meet the overemployed: people who hold down multiple full-time remote jobs on the DL. There are now 300K members across Reddit and Discord swapping tips on how to optimize, automate, and juggle employment. A few examples: 

➜ An HR professional who quadrupled her salary by working two jobs at once. 

➜ Isaac, the person who coined the movement, earns $600K from his two tech jobs.

➜ A software engineer whose two jobs base pay is $125K and $112K, respectively (and that’s not counting bonuses 👀)

• Why? Aside from the financial incentive, having multiple jobs provides security: It protects the overemployed from layoffs and inflation, and gives them leverage to leave a job in case it turns sour. For others, it’s just a way to fill their free time (big tech is notorious for hiring people to do nothing). 

But joining the #overemployed club can come with consequences. For some, the fear of getting caught is too much: “I had a panic attack on my first day of working two jobs,” one employee told The Guardian. There’s also the risk of burning out from managing hefty workloads. We’d love to know: Would you join the overemployed? 🤔

 3   Emma Hayes makes history as the highest-paid coach in women’s soccer ⚽️

We love to see it. 👏 Emma Hayes is set to become the highest paid coach in women’s soccer after being appointed Head Coach of the US women’s national team. The base salary? A cool $1.6 million. 

Here’s why that salary is so important: 

• It matches her experience. During her 11 seasons with the Women’s Super League Club, Hayes led Chelsea to 13 major trophies—and won Best FIFA Women’s Coach in 2021. 

• It surpasses her predecessor’s. The old head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, made $446,496 a year. Yet under Andonovski’s leadership, the team hit “rock bottom.” Hayes’ salary shows U.S. Soccer is willing to invest in the best. 

• It’s equal to her male counterparts. Gregg Berhalter, the men’s soccer coach, has a salary of $1.6 million a year (+1 for equal pay!). 

Now for the golden question: 🎤 Does Hayes herself feel fairly compensated? “I’ve certainly been awarded the contract that I think I’m worth,” she told 90 Mins. 

“Don’t tell the IRS.” 

That’s none other than Barbara Corcoran, a Shark Tank investor (and absolute icon) after revealing how much she makes. 😅

Want to know what the IRS shouldn’t? Watch our latest interview with Barbara—which also includes interviews with Mark Cuban, Vivian Tu from Your Rich BFF, and Steven Phillips-Horst, co-host of the podcast Celebrity Book Club. 

• Only 18% of STS IG followers correctly guessed the highest-paying trade job—can you?  

• Massachusetts is the latest state to consider a four-day workweek (um, yes please).  

• Missed our webinar that helped you find your market rate? Here’s the replay. 🎬 

• WFH: 1. RTO: 0. A new study found that WFH jobs are great for companies’ revenue growth.

• ”My mom makes $5.” 😂 TBT to our (adorable) interview asking kids how much their parents earn.

• Don’t forget to take our new quiz, “Are You Underpaid?” and finally answer that burning question. 🤔 

Before we part ways, we just wanted to give you a big shout-out—we just hit 10,000 subscribers and couldn’t be happier to have you here! Here’s to more newsletters fighting for equal pay, salary transparency, and everything in between. 💚