In the ever-evolving landscape of tech employment, one software engineer has sparked a heated online debate about workplace ethics and survival strategies. Soham Parekh, an engineer from India, went viral this week after being exposed for simultaneously working at multiple startup companies - a practice known in tech circles as “overemployment”.

Parekh’s story reveals a complex narrative of professional desperation and technological opportunity. According to his own statements, he claimed to work an astonishing 140 hours per week across several startups, justifying his actions as a response to “dire financial circumstances”.

Multiple startup founders, including Suhail Doshi from Playground AI and Matthew Parkhurst from Antimetal, publicly called out Parekh for his duplicitous employment strategy. They described him as “smart and likable” but ultimately untrustworthy, with some firing him within his first week after discovering his multiple job commitments.

In an interview, Parekh defended his actions, insisting he wrote “every inch” of code himself and only used AI as an assistive tool. He acknowledged the controversial nature of his approach but maintained it was born out of economic necessity.

The incident has ignited broader conversations within the tech community about interviewing processes, workplace loyalty, and the economic pressures facing young professionals. The r/overemployed subreddit, which now boasts nearly 450,000 members, has been particularly animated about Parekh’s story.

While some view Parekh’s actions as unethical, others see them as a creative response to an increasingly unstable job market. The debate highlights the growing tension between traditional employment models and the gig economy’s flexible work arrangements.

Ultimately, Parekh’s viral moment serves as a provocative case study in professional survival, technological capability, and the blurred lines of modern work ethics.