Polywork. What Should Employers Do – Be Concerned or Look for Opportunities?

More and more people in Lithuania are working more than one job – for some, it is an opportunity to ensure financial stability, while for others, it is a way to explore new fields and pursue self-realization. However, as this trend grows, companies must reassess how they view employees who have more than one professional role – should they be perceived as a risk or as a valuable strength?

According to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, at the end of 2024 as many as 5.5% of Lithuanian residents – mostly men – were working more than one job.

“We see two clear reasons why people choose to take on multiple activities. One is the necessity to ensure financial security when a single job simply does not guarantee stability. The other is the desire for self-realization, the urge to try new areas, and, in some cases, to finally pursue a long-held idea. A second job often becomes an opportunity to test whether a new field could become one’s main professional direction,” says Denis Tarasenkov, Client Partner at the Lithuanian division of the global workforce solutions company Manpower.

However, this trend raises a fundamental question for employers: is an employee who works in multiple workplaces a threat to company productivity, or an untapped opportunity to attract and develop talent?

Most Still Disapprove

Although combining several jobs is becoming increasingly common, many managers still view this practice with suspicion. According to D. Tarasenkov, companies are most often afraid that having multiple jobs will reduce an employee’s productivity and engagement. Managers see it as a risk factor because employees who split their time between several jobs rarely manage to devote full attention to one employer. The prevailing perception is that such a person will be tired, distracted, and unable to fully commit to the team.

“In reality, balancing multiple jobs is not easy. It requires exceptional self-discipline, strong time-management skills, and the ability to maintain balance between different responsibilities. Increased workload leads to fatigue and stress, and over time – burnout. Longer working hours reduce rest time, strain relationships, and impair sleep quality, so such concerns from managers are entirely justified,” the expert says.

“Moreover, an overworked person loses motivation – when work becomes the center of the entire day, satisfaction, creativity, and the desire to improve gradually decline. This state negatively affects both personal well-being and productivity in the primary job,” D. Tarasenkov emphasizes.

Benefits – Often Undervalued

However, there is another side to the story that is often forgotten, the expert notes.

“It may seem like employees are ‘cheating’ on their main employer when they engage in additional activities, but in reality such specialists bring numerous benefits to companies – benefits that often go unnoticed. For example, people working in administrative or creative fields who take on additional projects acquire a broader range of skills and experiences they can apply in their main job,” Tarasenkov explains.

According to him, the advantages do not end there. Working in different environments encourages creativity and innovation – such employees introduce new perspectives and ideas that can help solve problems within the company more quickly. In addition, employees accustomed to juggling multiple responsibilities often show greater adaptability and resilience to change, which is particularly valuable in today’s fast-changing business environment.

“Ironically, when employees are given the flexibility to pursue multiple professional interests, their job satisfaction and loyalty to their main employer may actually increase. Companies open to hiring such specialists become more attractive to highly qualified professionals who value flexibility and foster a culture of continuous learning across the organization,” he says.

There Is No Single Right Answer

Although many employers still try to restrict secondary activities, trends indicate that the era of multiple jobs will only strengthen. The younger workforce increasingly values flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to realize themselves across several projects at the same time.

“There is no single correct answer to whether companies should encourage or discourage employees from holding multiple jobs. Every organization must assess what matters more – full control over employees or the ability to attract specialists with broader competencies and greater resilience,” says Tarasenkov.

According to him, companies that dare to adapt rather than avoid or reject employees working more than one job ultimately gain a competitive advantage in the battle for talent. “Such employers foster a culture of trust, which becomes a strong magnet for professionals seeking not only a job but also space to grow,” he adds.