Project description
Understanding how holding multiple jobs affects workers’ well-being
Engaging in the new economy often means managing multiple jobs, which can have implications for workers' well-being. Moonlighters, individuals holding more than one job, exemplify how fragmented work arrangements can impact job quality. In this context, the ERC-funded MOONLIGHT project investigates the quality of work and the well-being of multiple job holders (MJHs), focusing on assessing work quality across primary, secondary and additional job roles. The study introduces a unique dynamic app for assessing both quality of work and well-being. The research will rely on new comparative data from seven advanced economies: Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Despite these countries experiencing increasing levels of MJHs, they possess varying welfare state traditions.
Objective
MOONLIGHT is a transdisciplinary and multi-method study of the quality of work and wellbeing of contemporary multiple jobholders. Working in the new economy is increasingly of a flexible and fragmented nature. Moonlighters, or multiple jobholders [MJHs], can be considered emblematic of how work fragmentation and combinations affect the quality of work and total worker wellbeing. MOONLIGHT will research the quality of work in first, second and other jobs and how this translates into total worker wellbeing. I introduce this concept of ‘total worker wellbeing’ to refer to the complex interdependencies and co-existence of features. This is both conceptually and empirically ground-breaking, as conceptual research and the development of comprehensive scales on wellbeing at work is still in its infancy and its inclusion enables researchers to make meaningful comparisons between groups of workers – both single and multiple jobholders. Apart from this conceptually innovative part, a unique and crucial feature of this programme’s empirical approach is its innovative app for dynamic quality and wellbeing assessment. MOONLIGHT will study the quality and wellbeing of MJHs through comparative research in seven advanced economies: Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Even though the meso- and macro-level contexts both have a pivotal role in the prevalence, quality and wellbeing of MJHs, these levels have so far rarely featured in research – a void this programme aims to fill. All countries have increasing levels of MJHs, but with different welfare state traditions, regulations and policies, norms and labour markets. By researching the practices used to conceptualise, classify and measure quality of work and wellbeing and translating these into a future-proof conceptual framework and app, that capture the complexities of the modern fragmented world of work, MOONLIGHT will provide both theoretical and methodological advancement.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands