How to Ethically do Side-Gigs When Still Formally Employed. - Coach Andeh

Almost all employees today are seeking ways to supplement their income and make the most out of their skills and talents. Especially given that fewer and fewer jobs provide long-term security in addition to generational differences in perspectives towards formal employment. One popular way to supplement income is by taking on gig work in addition to one’s regular day job. However, striking a balance between the formal job and gig work can be challenging especially if one has to do it ethically. Today, I will share some tips and advice for employees who are looking to balance their day job with their side-gigs.

1. Allot Your Time Adequately: Assess how much time you have available to devote to both your formal employment (without cheating your employer) as well as your side gig. Ensure that your side-gigs are scheduled when you have free time outside of your regular work hours. This can include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and lunch breaks. Use this time to focus on your gig work.
2. Choose Your Side Gigs Carefully: Not all gigs are the same, with some requiring more of your time and energy than others. Choose side-gigs that fit well with your schedule, as well as those that provide a good return on investment. Avoid gigs that require a significant amount of time and effort that might compromise your day job. Some organizations do not allow you to do side-gigs that are similar to your current job even during off-work hours. Be sure to check your contract to ensure that you are not violating any clauses to that effect.
3. Communicate with Your Employer: It is important to declare to your employer about your side-gig work to ensure that you are not in violation of any organizational policies. The other reason the employer should be notified is in the unlikely event that you may have accidents while on the side-gig. (Note here that your health insurance covers you both day and night. To this effect, your employer has a right to know what you were doing if you got harmed and had to seek medical attention or follow up on a related insurance claim). Being upfront and honest about your intentions and ensuring that your side-gig does not interfere with your day job responsibilities is the right thing to do.
4. Workload Prioritization: Employees who succeed at both their jobs and side-gigs have mastered the practice of carefully prioritizing their day jobs and side-gig work. You must ensure that you are meeting your day job responsibilities while still having time to focus on your side-gig. A good practice here is to create a to-do list and set priorities, making sure that you are staying on top of your most critical tasks.
5. Be Organized: Balancing your day job with your side-gig can be overwhelming, but an organized employee can manage both effectively. By using tools like calendars, task lists, and time tracking apps, you can stay on top of your schedule and ensure that you are meeting deadlines and completing tasks.
6. Practice Self-Care: Balancing your day job with your side-gig can be stressful, so prioritize self-care. Make sure that you are getting enough rest, eating well, and taking time to relax and recharge. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential for managing stress and achieving work-life balance.

Side-gigs are now the norm. It is high time employers come to terms with this reality and device mechanisms to support their staff to strike a balance between their day-jobs and side-gigs.

Balancing a day job with side-gigs requires careful planning, organization, and communication. By assessing your time, choosing gigs carefully, communicating with your employer, prioritizing your workload, staying organized, and taking care of yourself, you can successfully manage both and achieve your financial and career goals..

There are many options for you to take if you see opportunities for side-gigs and are facing some challenges with how to get them done while maintaining your day-job. You can partner with other non-employed but skilled people, you can form networks of skilled professionals, you can set-up a formal business and implement systems that enable the business run independently or you can simply act as a broker and collect a commission on each referral you make for work you could have done but are not able to because of your day job.

If you need coaching to explore your side-gig behavior, book a session with Coach Andeh.

Board Affairs Career Advisory CEO Advisory Coach Andeh Cover Letters CV Review HR Mentoring HR Practitioners Job Satisfaction Job Search My Job Uganda Organizational Citizenship Behavior Quiet Hiring Quiet quitting Staff Engagement; staff motivation stress managment