In today’s gig economy, juggling multiple jobs has become increasingly common. But, does it help or harm employees to have multiple jobs? New research shows that it might be useful for employees, and employers, for workers to hold more than one job.
Do you have a side hustle or manage multiple jobs? Read more to find out the impact that your multiple jobs might be having on your life and work.
The Rise of Multiple Jobholding
With the proliferation of gig economy roles – like rideshare driving, Airbnb hosting, and freelancing – more people are finding themselves holding multiple jobs simultaneously. This trend has significant implications for how individuals perceive their work and professional identities.
On one hand, it’s possible that multitasking has negative impacts. Employees may be distracted and feel like they don’t quite know who they are. This might lead to a fragmented sense of self. If you don’t have one clear work identity, who are you really?
On the other hand, it could have positive impacts. When you are able to grow your skills in multiple ways, holding more than one job might be a stimulating, growth-oriented experience. In this case, it could be self-expansive for people to have more than one work role. They could see themselves as even more talented, skilled, and capable than before!
When you have multiple jobs, is it helpful or harmful?
Is it confusing or clarifying to hold multiple roles?
One theory about work and identity suggests that maintaining multiple professional identities can cause a fragmented sense of self, which negatively impacts the meaningfulness of work. If you don’t know who you are as an employee, or can’t make sense of your multiple identities together, you may lose your sense of purpose at work. How can you feel like you are contributing meaningfully to your work if you don’t really understand what you’re doing there anyway? The theory posits that a consistent self-definition is crucial for finding purpose and significance in one’s work. In other words, if you clearly know who you are, you clearly know why you matter.
In contrast, self-expansion theory offers a different perspective. It argues that adopting multiple identities can be fulfilling by satisfying the human need for growth and exploration. This theory suggests that the diversity of roles can lead to a richer, more stimulating work experience. If you can see yourself as many different things, you feel a sense of continuous improvement and grow your sense of what you can do as a person.
The Impact of Multiple Job Roles
This new research helped to explore whether multiple job holders have positive or negative outcomes. They found that enacting multiple identities primarily has positive effects on work meaningfulness.
One of the study’s key findings is that it’s more likely that engaging in various roles can provide stimulation, fostering a sense of growth and exploration. This stimulation is linked to increased work meaningfulness, as individuals find their work more exciting and varied. Overall, they found greater support for the idea that having multiple job roles increases the purpose and meaning that employees feel toward their work.
Identity Contrast Matters
The study also highlights the importance of identity contrast—the degree of difference between the professional identities employees hold. For example, if you hold a work role that uses a lot of the same skills as another one, they have less contrast with each other. If you hold work roles that are very dissimilar – being a professor and an Uber driver for example – there is more contrast between them.
Higher identity contrast can amplify the effects of holding multiple jobs. For instance, a person juggling vastly different roles might experience greater stimulation from the diversity of their work. That will increase the positive benefits of holding multiple jobs, by increasing the meaning and purpose multiple jobholders experience through their work.
Conclusions about Multiple Jobs
Understanding the impact of enacting multiple professional identities can help employees navigate their work more effectively. For instance, recognizing the benefits of stimulation can encourage multiple jobholders to embrace the diversity of their work. It can also help employers to recognize the benefits of allowing, or even encouraging their employees to take on other roles outside of work.
Companies can also create environments that foster both self-expansion and consistency by providing opportunities for growth and encouraging a sense of coherence across different roles. For instance, offering professional development programs that cater to the diverse needs of employees can enhance their work experience.
Overall, multiple jobholders may find greater meaning and satisfaction in their work. As the gig economy continues to grow, understanding these dynamics will be crucial for both individuals and organizations aiming to thrive in this evolving landscape. To learn more on this topic, check out our related post!
