The Convener of the Employee MarketPlace (EMP) initiative Mr. Nduneche Ezurike has called on organizations to brace up to the challenges of a Post-COVID-19 workplace wherein side-hustling may become the new-normal amongst the millennial employees.
Writing on his LinkedIn handle with the title: Post COVID-19: A Brighter Future for Side-Hustlers? (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/post-covid-19-brighter-future-side-hustlers-nduneche-ezurike-/Mr.Ezurike noted that one of the positive outcomes of the Post-COVID-19 workplace will be growth in the digital capability of many organizations on the one hand and the increased number of the side-hustling employees on the other hand. “Like every crisis era, the COVID-19 offers a spark that will readjust social behaviors and work relations in a way never anticipated by technology.” He called this era a “tipping point”; because the developments though unintentional have the likelihood of causing unanticipated but important changes”.
Explaining the trend of side-hustling, the EMP Convener noted that Side-hustling is a term common amongst the millennials. It’s a flexible second job that offers something more than the 9-5 pm formal pay. He noted that the hustlers themselves see such job as an avenue to express their passion, keep out of trouble and boost their sense of self-autonomy and in the process earn supportive income. He explained that before COVID-19, Uber driving was gaining traction as a side-hustle for most youths in formal employment. Other popular side-hustles are: e-commerce business, run-at-home bakery, catering, photography, freelance writing, clothes curating and Gym instructing.
On how organizations should respond to this emerging trend, Mr. Ezurike advised organizations especially medium to large enterprises to acknowledge the reality of side-hustle as reflective of the experiences and expectations which the millennials have passed through in their generation. In his words, “Most millennials witnessed first-hand the sore experiences of their parents whilst some were themselves victims of scarcity and lack in the midst of the rich few who command plenty. For this reason, they have grown with little faith in their country’s politics and economic system and thus believe that the bubble could burst at any time; hence one needs a side-hustle to hedge against the rainy day.
He charged Human Resource practitioners to understand the times and quickly seek a policy shift that will make the work environment more permissible and compassionate beyond good wages.
