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The rise in polywork -

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of people working more than one full-time job.

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Consequence of home office -

As many people started working from home and employees were given more autonomy, many people took the opportunity to "polywork" and earn some extra income.

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Numbers -

According to one Forbes article from March 2023, the percentage of people doing polywork is as high as 40%.

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The main polyworkers - The majority of polyworking people have entry-level jobs, and the industries most affected are technology, advertising/marketing, and finance.

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Multiple motives -

But what is really behind the rise in polywork? Are people working two jobs just to make ends meet, or are there other advantages to having more than one job?

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Here to stay -

As it seems polywork is going nowhere, let's take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages that this working style can bring.

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Polywork vs. side gig - It is important to recognize that polywork is different from having a side gig. A side gig is generally a smaller project that is auxiliary to a person’s full-time job.

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Polywork vs. side gig - Polywork, by contrast, is when someone is committed to working in more than one full-time role.

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The advantages -

Let’s start by taking a look at the benefits. The most obvious upside to having two jobs is, of course, the extra income.

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Extra income -

Indeed, according to a poll conducted by Paychex, 50% of people who polywork say they appreciate it for the additional income.

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Extra income -

Having the income from a second full-time job can be a great way to boost your savings, or finally pay for that round-the-world trip you’ve always dreamed of.

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Variety of work -

Having two jobs is also a great way to ensure you are exposed to a variety of work. Indeed, some people who polywork have multiple jobs in completely different industries.

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Variety of work -

If you spend all day working as an accountant, for example, it can be fun to work in the evenings producing online video content.

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Jobs -

If you are a person who thrives on creating, you may even find that having a second, creative job energizes you, despite the time that it takes.

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Variety of company cultures -

There is also a lot to be said for the variety of company experience that comes with working multiple jobs. Every company has a different culture and attracts different types of personalities.

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Variety of company cultures - Exposing yourself to as many different working cultures as possible can help you build soft skills and work out where you really thrive.

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Opportunity to explore -

The final benefit to polywork is that it allows you to pursue two different career paths at the same time. This can be quite important if you are someone who can’t decide which path to take.

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Opportunity to explore - Many people enter the world of work without really knowing what they want to do, and polyworking allows them to try their hand at multiple jobs without really setting themselves back.

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Disadvantages -

And now for the disadvantages. First up is the obvious fact that polywork takes up a huge amount of time, much of which may otherwise be spent doing hobbies or seeing friends and family.

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Lack of time -

This is clearly something to bear in mind if, for example, you are working two jobs to afford designer clothes for your kids. They may prefer you to work one job and always be home for dinner.

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Increased stress -

Another clear disadvantage to working multiple jobs is that it can cause increased levels of stress and even burnout.

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Increased stress - Having too many responsibilities can rob people of the time they need to relax, and having that downtime is very important for our mental health.

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Frustration -

Related to the above is the fact that stretching yourself too thin makes it likely you’ll never have the time to do things as well as you would like.

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Frustration -

In a professional setting, this can mean that you progress more slowly in one job than you otherwise would; a frustrating feeling if you have high ambitions.

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Awkwardness -

Finally, you may feel uncomfortable working for more than one employer, particularly if you feel the need to keep one or more of your jobs a secret.

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Awkwardness -

Transparency is key here. If you are going to work more than one job, make sure it is clear to your employers when you will be working for each.

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In summary -

It is clear, then, that there are many ups and downs to working multiple jobs. If you are someone who thrives on pace and the challenge of juggling multiple responsibilities, it may well be for you.

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Food for thought -

But if you really value your downtime and need to prioritize time for yourself and others, it is a good idea to think twice before committing to polywork.

See also: The side jobs of famous historical figures

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