Drivers and outcomes of teachers pursuing extra employment outside of teaching

•The respect for teachers in Türkiye is diminishing due to policy misalignments, forcing them to take on extra employment.•Neoliberal policies intensify teachers' financial strains, prompting secondary income searches.•Urban living costs, especially housing, drive teachers to seek additional revenues.•Teachers' value shifts to income, spurring search for better-paying roles. This study explores the growing trend of teachers working outside their profession in Türkiye, examining the causes, effects, and implications for their educational duties. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 public school teachers using a phenomenological method, and the data was evaluated through content analysis. Economic challenges were identified as the primary reason for extra employment, with participants expressing concerns over their financial stability and their children's future. It was found that extra jobs diverted teachers' attention away from their primary profession, negatively impacting their intellectual responsibilities. Based on the findings, it is essential to address teachers' financial challenges through targeted reforms to reduce their need for additional employment, thereby allowing them to focus fully on their educational responsibilities.