Post-Covid-19: A brighter future for side-hustlers?
One of the likely outcomes of the post-Covid-19 workplace will be the rise of the connected organisation on the one hand and the upswing of the side-hustling employees on the other hand.
Both portend intriguing times, and to my mind make the benefits of the 4th industrial revolution nearer.
Like every crisis era, the Covid-19 offers a spark that will readjust social behaviours and work relations in ways neither anticipated by technology nor seasonal prophecies. I do not think this is about disruption, maybe a “tipping point”, given that the activities are not really intentional but could cause a larger, unanticipated important change.
For the workplace millennials, this is expected to fast-track the talent space.
There are evidences to show that the much dreaded virtual work system may have come alive even in organisations that hitherto had phobia for technology, thanks to emerging platform technologies that have made working from home realistic.
For many workplace millennials and even centennials, the post-Covid-19 heralds a new era where side-hustle rather than be a guilty pleasure could instead become a permissible stream of income.
A side-hustle for most paid employees in Nigeria is a flexible second job. Typically, many persons who practice it say they are passionate about it either because it brings in supportive income or creates avenue to explore more possibilities. For most males before Covid-19, Uber driving was gaining traction. There are, however, many others across gender, including e-commerce business, run-at-home bakery, catering, photography, freelance writer, clothes curator and gym instructor.
For real, side-hustling offers something worth more than the 9-5pm formal pay. It helps to prevent some young minds from getting into trouble; hedges against feeling stuck and dull, helps boosts feeling of self-autonomy, acquisition of skill and rainy-day experiences. Many organisations though aware of such benefits have, however, refused to acknowledge side-hustle, fearing that it could undermine the employees’ ability to put in their best at work.
Who should really be blamed? Most millennials witnessed first-hand the sore experiences of their parents whilst some were themselves victims of scarcity and lack in the midst of a rich few who command plenty. For this reason, they have little faith in the system and believe the bubble could burst at any time; hence one needs a side-hustle.
HR practitioners should really be discussing this topic now. Organisations that have an eye for the future are struggling to determine whether side-hustle is a quest for “shared prosperity” and “intrapreneurship” or another agitation for a more compassionate work environment. Will corporate policies shift a little this time to accommodate side-hustlers? The jury is still out. What’s your take?
Written by Nduneche Ezurike, Group Head, Strategic Brand Management and Communication at Polaris Bank Ltd.
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