Nearly half of U.S. workers now engage in "polyworking," meaning they hold multiple jobs or roles rather than relying on a single primary employer for their income.

In a June survey by Monster, which included more than 700 U.S. workers, 47 percent reported polyworking, and 51 percent indicated that the extra monthly income from these additional jobs is absolutely essential - they cannot meet basic living costs without it.

The primary reasons cited for polyworking include covering living expenses, gaining financial independence and flexibility, paying off debt, and having a safety net against job insecurity.

Among those who polywork, about half maintain a full-time job in addition to one or more part-time jobs, 28 percent hold multiple part-time jobs, and 12 percent manage more than one full-time job.

Notably, 59 percent said they would be willing to work more than one full-time job if needed. The movement toward polyworking has produced mixed effects on workers' productivity and job performance, with 29 percent finding it beneficial and 31 percent saying it has had a negative impact.

Looking ahead, 38 percent expect to continue working multiple jobs as part of their career strategy, whereas 31 percent see polyworking as a temporary measure.

Economic anxiety remains high, with 64 percent of workers considering a second job or side hustle in the coming year to supplement their income.

A significant number of people have minimal savings - almost one-in-five could cover less than a month's expenses, and another third have savings to last only one to five months.

Generation Z has been particularly active in adopting side hustles for financial stability and skill development, yet only about half of those holding multiple jobs inform their main employer of their other sources of income.

The growing trend of polyworking has led some employers to implement productivity tracking and monitoring, but experts recommend focusing on clear performance goals for employees rather than attempting to control how employees use their time outside of work or penalizing them for side jobs.

Source: https://www.hrdive.com/news/what-is-polyworking-sidehustles/752114/

So, the question for our readers is: Are Your Employees "Polyworking"? 

Here is the opinion of one of the McCalmon editorial staff:

Jack McCalmon, Esq.

I don't know if my employees are "polyworking". The survey states only 29 percent find it "beneficial", which could mean "polyworking" is not really working for most employees.

You can answer our poll. Please note any comments provided may be shared with others.