Exploring the role of side hustles on full-time work performance

Abstract

Despite being presented in a somewhat denigrating light by scholars and employers, side hustles continue to be a growing phenomenon globally. The ascent of side hustles has led to an upsurge in a phenomenon referred to as hybrid entrepreneurship. Hybrid entrepreneurship is defined as engaging in a side business while full-time employed. With rapid technological advancement and the growth in the gig economy, it has become so much easier for one to augment full-time work with a side hustle. The emergence of the gig economy has led to the creation of atypical, non-traditional employment structures. Conventional formal employment models have seen a decrease, paving the path for a changing work environment with various labels. These include moonlighting, multiple job holding, part-time employment, and side hustles. While these terms appear to share a common essence, each carries distinct nuances. With the worldwide surge of the gig economy, the term ""side hustle"" has become the most prevalent, aligning closely with the growing economic trend. This study used a qualitative, exploratory approach to understand the role of side hustles on full-time work performance. This study achieved this by investigating five main areas. The first component was the motives behind hybrid entrepreneurship entry. The second component was the skills acquired by hybrid entrepreneurs in their side hustles that have proven beneficial in formal employment. The third portion was about the strategies hybrids employ to ensure that full-time work performance remains satisfactory. The fourth portion was about hybrid entrepreneurship and health implications. The last portion covered employer attitudes. A total of twenty semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with those who run side businesses while working full time to obtain insights from them.