One Job Should Be Enough

I feel like we’ve gotten to the point where people are expected to hold down more than one full-time job.

Granted, more than 90% of Americans report holding “only” one job, although it is probable that the number of people holding multiple jobs is underreported. (In fact, nearly half of respondents to a Bankrate survey reported having a side hustle.)

Many Americans, including nearly 20% of teachers, are working multiple jobs simply to make ends meet. And those who are making enough are frequently advised to consider a side gig in part because it can provide something to fall back on if  you lose your full-time job. (If you’re feeling guilty after reading blog posts like the one I just linked to, which insinuates that if you have any time to relax outside of work, you should be using that time on your side gig, please check out my post on “shoulds.”)

There are plenty of people who take on a second job out of love. Many of these people are pursuing something that doesn’t bring in enough money to the pay bills. I’m one of those people. Writing is my passion, but I’m not likely to be able to make a living pursuing my own writing projects. For people like me, a second job, such as writing, is a choice. I strongly believe that is the way things should be.

Second jobs have definite drawbacks. When you take into account the cost of the extra commute (if you aren’t working from home) and other expenses that you might not incur if you had only one job, you may not bring much money home from your second job. You also have to make sure that your side gig doesn’t interfere with your primary job. And if you’re not careful, work can become your entire life, eating into time you could spend on relationships with others or self-care.

That last point is especially important. Healthy people need time to take care of themselves — physically, mentally, and spiritually — and to invest in relationships. It distresses me that I’m living in a society where side hustles are seen as the new norm — a necessity, not a choice.

What do we need to do to make having a second job optional, rather than a necessity?

• We need to support a living wage for all workers. The Fight for $15 movement is an attempt to do that, though a $15/hour minimum wage is not enough to meet the needs of a single person in some locales, such as San Francisco, nor is it enough for many families with children. Nevertheless, a higher minimum wage is a good start.
• We need to consider how best to help people who are unemployed. Unemployment insurance provides a safety net for a period of time after a worker becomes unemployed through no fault of their own. It is not available for self-employed people who experience a downturn in demand for their services. Some organizations are putting forth suggestions for revamping the current unemployment insurance system, such as this proposal to create “reemployment insurance” that includes eligibility for all workers, including the self-employed; options such as job training vouchers or stipends to assist with job search expenses; and wage insurance. I’m not advocating for (or against) this particular program. My point is that strengthening unemployment insurance could reduce the pressure on individuals to take on a side gig out of fear of job loss.
• We need to ensure that all workers receive benefits that can help them make ends meet. We live in a wealthy nation, but the Affordable Care Act, which has provided better access to health insurance, is under attack. And the people who can least afford to be sick are far less likely to get sick leave than those who can better afford to lose income due to illness. We need to support the economic security of all workers — including the self-employed — through a portable safety net of benefits such as sick leave and disability insurance, thus helping more people to be able to get by on “just” one job.

It’s not wrong to choose to have a side gig or second job. But we need to structure our society so that these things are optional, not a necessity.