What is slashing?

Don’t worry, there’s nothing barbaric about this kind of slashing. In fact, the origin comes from the forward slash symbol we all use on our keyboards.

Slashers are those who go from one job or career to another. The term was coined in 2007 by Marci Alboher, author of One Person/Multiple Careers. It is used to describe people who have 2 or 3 jobs at the same time. For example, a school cleaner who babysits in the evening. Or someone who waits tables during the daytime and DJs at a nightclub.

The US Census Bureau found that around 13 million Americans had more than one job in the year 2013. Their report looked at individuals holding up to seven different positions within a 12-month period.

To start with, employees tended to become slashers by necessity. Unsatisfied with their salary, they would look to supplement it with a second income. But nowadays, more and more people are choosing to take on a second or even third job for other reasons. College graduates entering the employment market are free to build their own custom-made careers, filled with slashes.

Younger generations like the millennials or Generation Z are keen to challenge established customs and practices within companies. Check out our episode on Generation Z to find out more!

Where older generations spent the entirety of their career with a single employer, under 35s nowadays prefer to vary their experiences.

Slashing generates mixed feelings among the working population. 64% of 18 - 24 year olds see it as a future standard. Meanwhile, 38% of others see an uncertain future ahead, with 30% expecting their professional stress to increase in the coming years.

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