EDITORIAL SIDE HUSTLES
How to support your employees
Here are three practical steps your business can take to encourage and benefit from your employees’ second jobs:
Set some boundaries Make sure employees know that you support their extracurricular endeavours, but at the same time, be clear about the boundaries – perhaps even writing them into employees’ contracts. For example, you might want to address conflicts of interest and clarify that an employee can’ t compete with your business via their second job or use your company’ s intellectual property. On a practical note, ensure employees with second jobs tell your HR team so that their tax codes can be accurately managed.
Beware of burnout The Henley Business School estimates that 45 % of those with a second job work more than 40 hours a week when combined with their primary job, and 25 % are working more than 50 hours per week. When employees spend their leisure time working on a second job, even if it’ s a passion of theirs, they are at heightened risk of burnout – something that would negatively impact not just the individual, but your business as well. So, be vigilant to the symptoms of burnout among employees with second jobs, and learn more about preventing burnout so you’ re ready to support them.
Embrace hybrid working The flexibility and autonomy of hybrid working empower employees to pursue their second jobs without impacting their work for you. According to Stanford economics professor Nicholas Bloom, hybrid workers save an average of 70 minutes a day when they don’ t have to commute. Of those 70 minutes per day, the survey shows they’ ll spend 30 minutes working more, and use the other 40 minutes doing other things – such as second jobs. This is supported by an IWG survey published earlier this year, in which 81 % of hybrid workers reported that they have additional personal time compared to before the pandemic.
It’ s key to support flexible ways of working to cultivate a workplace where innovation thrives.
Embrace the future of work
“ It’ s key to support flexible ways of working to cultivate a workplace where innovation thrives. By minimising commute times and providing employees with more time of their own, they are empowered to pursue other passions – and ultimately transform into a more resilient workforce for your business,” says Joanne Bushell, Managing Director South Africa and North Africa for International Workplace Group( IWG). ■
SA PROFILE www. saprofilemagazine. co. za
71