When a person begins to find a dead end in front of him, due to boredom, or other needs that cannot be met from his routine activities, then he will tend to look for a way out.
Likewise, a professional who suddenly has an urgent financial need will also need to find additional income. One solution is to look for a second job. This is a common phenomenon that has been going on for a long time, but it's starting to become more of a concern with the flexibility of work.
Moreover, many of today's generation want a job that is not binding, working flexibly through digital platforms or additional work outside of their main job. This phenomenon is known as the gig economy and side hustle.
The term gig economy refers to a project-based work system or short-term assignments, where workers are not permanently attached to one company. Meanwhile, side hustle refers to a side job that a person does to earn extra income outside of the main job. Both of these phenomena are very popular among young people, especially millennials and Gen Z.
But for the older generation, who are already tied up with other commitments such as building a household, then side hustle becomes a solution without having to leave the main job that requires him to be active from morning to evening.
On the one hand, these side hustles can have positive impacts such as increased financial independence and the development of new skills. However, individuals who are already immersed in activities outside their main job may also face other risks such as overwork and burnout as well as potential conflicts with company policies.
Side hustles also have the potential to violate company policies, such as working for a competitor, which can create problems. Employees who experience burnout due to side hustles can also have a negative impact on the company's reputation, for example through complaints or poor performance.
So companies need to revisit their side hustle policies to keep up with this trend and attract and retain the best talent.
The side hustle phenomenon can be explained philosophically as an existential response to the demands of modern life, the search for meaning, and the tension between the economic system and self-actualization.
This phase of human existence can be explained by the views of 19th century Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard. According to him, humans are free to determine the meaning of their lives, but that freedom comes with responsibility and anxiety.
Kierkegaard emphasized that the main task of man is to be himself, not just to follow social norms or systems.
In this case, a side hustle can be a space for someone to assert their identity, go beyond their formal role at the office, and pursue a deeper calling in life. The anxiety that someone experiences, leading them to seek a solution by working a side job, can be an awareness to seek more without sacrificing what they already have.
Kierkegaard therefore sees anxiety not as a weakness, but as a sign that one is facing existential possibilities. When someone is dissatisfied at their main job and starts to side hustle, it can arise from existential anxiety - but it paves the way to freedom and authenticity.
So, in the face of this phenomenon, it is necessary to have open communication about the terms of the side job in order to build trust. Considering more flexible work policies can help employees balance work and personal life.
Management can also provide mental health support or resources to help employees manage additional work so as to reduce the risk of burnout. Above all, clear and fair policies on side hustles can prevent conflicts of interest and create a healthy work environment.
