Effect of Side Jobs and Psychological Distress on Employee Turnover in Japanese Employees: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: We investigated the impact of engaging in side jobs on turnover and its interaction with psychological distress among Japanese employees.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey. We investigated 2783 full-time employees in companies permitting side jobs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between side jobs and turnover, and its relationship stratified by psychological distress.

Results: Employees engaging in side jobs had higher odds ratios (ORs) for turnover after adjusting for covariates, including psychological distress (OR, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 1.93). Among those under psychological distress, ORs for turnover were significantly higher (OR, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.76). Conversely, in employees without distress, no significant difference was observed.

Conclusions: Side job engagement correlates with higher turnover, particularly among employees under psychological distress.