Exploring the intersection of passion, productivity, and professionalism
The concept of a side hustle is hardly new. For many working-class professionals, it’s either a present reality or a familiar story. Perhaps you have a side hustle, or you know someone juggling one alongside a full-time job. It’s an enduring practice — many of us grew up watching parents or relatives selling textiles, running grocery stores, or managing other small ventures during or after office hours.
A side hustle is an income-generating activity that complements, but doesn’t conflict with one’s primary job. It’s not just a second job; it’s often more flexible, personal, and passion-driven. Unlike formal part-time roles, side hustles allow individuals to determine their level of involvement and structure their activities around their main employment.
Today, side hustles are not just popular — they’re almost a necessity. In a challenging economic environment, where wages don’t always align with the cost of living, many employees turn to side gigs to bridge the gap. For some, it’s about meeting essential needs when their salary doesn’t stretch far enough. For others, it’s about funding future ambitions: from education and travel to property and personal projects. And for many, it’s about finding fulfilment or expressing a passion that their day jobs don’t accommodate.
Imagine an accountant who loves to bake; her daily tasks may not leave room for creativity, but a weekend baking business allows her to express herself fully. Or a lawyer who has an eye for fashion and loves to sew. She cannot create pieces in court, but after work, she can design all the creations that flow through her mind. Some others are innovators at heart: ideas-driven and solution-centred. When their full-time jobs don’t allow space for experimentation or problem-solving, side hustles become the perfect outlet.
The prevalence of side hustles has surged in recent years. According to a 2025 report by Dollarsprout, approximately 69.6% of Americans now report having a side hustle, with 68% of side hustlers earning less than $500 per month. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger generations. A study by Intuit found that nearly two-thirds (66%) of Gen Z and millennials (ages 18–35) have started or plan to start a side hustle, with 65% intending to continue in 2025. In Nigeria, the number of people with side hustles is likely either comparable to or higher than the figures reported for America, as many people, especially young people, seem to be doing at least one thing on the side.
As side hustles flourish, they raise important workplace questions. Employers grapple with ethical concerns, productivity issues, and loyalty challenges. Meanwhile, employees must balance dual commitments without compromising performance.
From the Employee’s Perspective: How do you juggle both without dropping the ball? My rule? Your job must come first. Always. It is important to understand that one is an employee who has a side hustle and a side hustler who has a full-time job. A side hustle should remain just that — on the side. Here are some tips for maintaining balance:
- Respect your employer’s time: Hustle outside office hours — early mornings, evenings, weekends, or during your leave.
- Don’t use company resources: No office supplies, no work vehicles, no roping in colleagues.
- Avoid competition with your employer: Selling the same services as your company is unethical and creates a conflict of interest.
- Build support systems: Family, friends, or hired help can keep things running when work gets hectic.
- Use technology wisely: Automate tasks, schedule posts, and streamline operations using available tools.
- Join a community: Find support, share experiences, and learn from fellow employee-hustlers.
From the Employer’s Perspective: Should companies tolerate or embrace side hustles? Traditionally, many organisations discouraged side hustles. But the landscape is shifting. Employees seek more than just salaries — they want fulfilment, autonomy, and multiple income streams.
Here’s how organisations can respond constructively:
- Create clear policies: Outline what’s acceptable and what crosses the line. This removes ambiguity.
- Educate, not just restrict: Help employees understand the potential impact, positive or negative, of side hustles.
- Encourage openness: When people feel safe to share, it’s easier to monitor and support without conflict.
- Leverage hidden skills: Tap into employees’ passions and talents that may add value to internal projects.
- Promote innovation: Let side hustle ideas evolve into in-house initiatives. You never know where the next big idea will come from.
When done right, everyone wins! Employees and organisations both stand to gain from a healthy attitude toward side hustling.
For employees:
- Develop new skills that translate to better performance at work
- Gain broader perspectives from dealing with customers, markets, or industries outside their job
- Nurture an entrepreneurial mindset that fosters initiative and problem-solving
- Build a safety net for life after formal employment
For employers:
- Improve employee engagement and satisfaction
- Boost retention, especially among entrepreneurial-minded staff
- Inspire innovation through real-world ideas brought in by employees
- Encourage accountability and growth by treating employees as stakeholders in their own development
The rise of the side hustle is not a passing fad — it’s a defining feature of the modern working world. For employees, it’s a lifeline, a creative outlet, or a strategic plan for the future. For employers, it’s both a challenge and an opportunity. The key lies in balance. Employees must prioritise their primary responsibilities, maintain integrity, and avoid conflicts of interest. Employers, on their part, must acknowledge the reality of side hustles and create a framework that allows both the organisation and its people to thrive.
When both sides are clear, honest, and proactive, the result is a workplace where ambition, creativity, and productivity coexist, not collide. That, in today’s evolving world of work, is a win for everyone.
At the end of the day, employees who choose to have side hustles bear the responsibility of ensuring that these ventures don’t interfere with their core job. At the same time, organisations have a role in creating an environment where people are encouraged to bring their full selves to work — passions and all. With the right policies, clarity, and respect on both sides, side hustles can become not a threat, but a tool for growth, fulfilment, and future possibilities. This is the way I see things today.