This is something we are hearing more and more. With nearly 40% of UK employees now running a side hustle, many business owners have shared the following concerns with us… 

• The side hustle is a distraction from their main job. If too much focus is on their side hustle, their performance may drop. 

• Burnout and fatigue. Balancing two jobs can lead to stress, exhaustion and increased sick days. 

• Conflicts of interest. If their side hustle competes with your business or uses company resources, it’s a serious problem. 

• Reduced availability. They may be less flexible with overtime or urgent tasks. 

•  Loyalty. If their side hustle gets busier and grows, they might leave, causing disruption. 

So, how should you manage this? 

✔️ Have an open conversation. Understand their side hustle and discuss potential conflicts and set expectations early and in writing to avoid any misunderstandings 

✔️ Create clear policies. Define acceptable boundaries in your contracts of employment and policies in your and Employee Handbooks. 

✔️ Support them! This may sound strange, but if you can, support their side hustle, they’ll reward you with higher loyalty and engagement. 

✔️ Leverage their skills. Side hustles often enhance creativity, problem-solving and time management. 

Side hustles aren’t going away, so managing them to protect your business while keeping employees engaged is key. If you need a confidential chat though, we’re here to help.