The side hustle era and what it means for leaders

The future of #work is no longer a 9-to-5 job. The gig economy is taking over with almost half of working adults in EU and the UK earning money outside their main job.

And, among Gen Z, 57% report having a side gig or actively planning one.

From a leader's POV, this is a huge factor changing the reality of work, how people perceive it, as well as their motivation, engagement, productivity and the value they bring into your organization.

So, How Should You Handle Side-Hustles in Your Team as a Leader?

Before jumping to conclusions, a small confession.

Alongside my work as an HR leader, I am also a certified LEGO Serious Play facilitator. I never hid it and it never competed with any of my employers. In fact, I have used that skill to run internal #team workshops for the benefit of the company I worked for.

I have also worked with someone who loved running an Airbnb apartment. She was meticulous, creative, and proud of it. It did not pay a full time salary, but it gave her energy and a sense of ownership she couldn't get from her regular 9-to-5.

Others sell crafts on Etsy. Some do occasional delivery work with platforms like Uber Eats or build small digital products or consult a few hours a month.

Nevertheless, There Are Still Ethical Boundaries

A side hustle should never compete with what your company does.

Your job should not be used as a means to expand your own business at the expense of your employer.

Those are hard boundaries around trust, ethics, and risk.

At the same time, trying to completely ban side projects is usually the wrong move.

Jobs do not always provide fulfillment, meaning, and creative expression. Expecting work to meet every human need places unrealistic pressure on leaders and organizations.

There is also a basic economic truth here. One salary does not automatically equal security anymore and many people simply need the extra cash.

When Handled Well, Side Projects Can Actually Benefit the Workplace

People bring back new #skills, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy. They learn how markets work, how customers think, how to ship something from start to finish.

Where leaders should pay close attention is not the existence of a side hustle, but its impact.

If #performance starts to slip and deadlines are missed or reliability changes, then it's time for a serious conversation around boundaries, trust and expectations.

Final reflection: Your #job no longer holds all the answers for income, identity, or meaning and people will continue to build lives that extend beyond their job titles. The leadership question is how you respond to that reality in a pragmatic and human way.

---

Sparking Leadership # 38: a weekly series on human-centered, sustainable #leadership. Hit the like button to share the love and follow for real talk and practical tools. In the meantime, lead with spark!