We focus on the biorthogonal work statistics of the interacting many-body Hatano-Nelson model after switching on the imaginary vector potential. We introduce a generalized Loschmidt echo $G\left(t\right)$ using the biorthogonal metric operator whose Fourier transform yields the probability distribution of work done. The statistics of work displays several universal features, including an exponential decay with the square of both the system size and imaginary vector potential for the probability to stay in the ground state. Additionally, its high-energy tail follows a universal power law with exponent $-3$. This originates from the peculiar temporal power-law decay of $G\left(t\right)$ with a time-dependent exponent, corresponding to an unusual orthogonality catastrophe. The mean and the variance of work scale linearly and logarithmically with system size, while all higher cumulants are nonextensive. Our results are relevant for nonunitary field theories as well.

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• Work theorems
• Non-Hermitian systems
• Luttinger liquid model