Cost of living crisis | Is it ever OK for staff to have a side hustle or second job?

From an Etsy craft project to a full-blown business, many staff at all levels have something that could be described as a side-hustle. And with more and more of us setting up something 'other' in our spare time, the lines between side-hustle and moonlighting is blurry.

Almost a third of workers (31%) already have a ‘side hustle’, with a further 42% are considering taking one up, according to new research by Money.co.uk. The cost of living crisis is a huge driver in people taking on new project and second jobs – and yes, while many (71%) are doing it for financial reasons, there are also those who are following a passion (24%).

A survey by Instantprint conducted in May 2023 backs up the trend, finding that, in the last three years, 45% of respondents started their own business or side hustle and are now full-time 25% do it on the side of another job, seven per cent are in the process of setting up or launching and two per cent have thought about it.

That’s the dealbreaker for many – the ‘when’ rather than the ‘how’. A side hustle can be beneficial in so many ways, but surely it can’t cross over into priority work time? But with the cost of living crisis pushing many to look for extra work, it's an enticing prospect.