{"id":243723,"date":"2025-07-06T22:19:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T22:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/243723\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T22:19:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T22:19:17","slug":"beyond-the-9-to-5-why-side-hustles-are-becoming-a-way-of-life-for-more-full-time-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/243723\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the 9 to 5: Why side hustles are becoming a way of life for more full-time workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

SINGAPORE \u2013 When Ms Joey Chan saw many pet owners struggling to find someone to care for their pets when they travel or work, she began offering house visits as a service. <\/p>\n

The 26-year-old goes to pet owners\u2019 homes to feed their fur kids, clean up after them and administer medicine if needed. She also offers dog-walking services, stepping in when owners are too busy to do so themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of my clients have become regulars, and some even trust me enough to leave their home keys with me permanently so I can step in whenever needed,\u201d she told The Straits Times. <\/p>\n

During peak periods like holiday seasons, she sometimes has to manage five or six home visits a day while juggling her full-time job as a business development manager at The Mind Cafe. <\/p>\n

To do this, she has to ensure that the visits are scheduled strictly outside of work hours or on week\u00adends. \u201cIt can be exhausting, but I make it work because I genuinely love what I do,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is more than just a side hustle; it\u2019s a personal mission,\u201d the animal lover said. <\/p>\n

Ms Chan is among a growing number of full-time employees, especially millennials and Gen Zers, who are pursuing side gigs not just to supplement their income, but also to seek personal fulfilment. <\/p>\n

While having a side gig, or moonlighting, was once frowned upon, the practice is increasingly being reframed with more positive labels such as hustling, polyworking or having a \u201cslash career\u201d or \u201cportfolio career\u201d. <\/p>\n

The trend has become more prevalent in the post-pandemic world. While some employees do it discreetly, others are embracing their side ventures openly \u2013 sometimes even with the blessing of their employers.<\/p>\n

Ms Chan\u2019s employer, for instance, is supportive of her pet-sitting gig. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a mutual understanding that as long as it doesn\u2019t affect my work performance and I continue to fulfil my responsibilities, it\u2019s completely fine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

According to a 2025 report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), 33 per cent of Singapore respondents across all generations said they are now engaged in additional employment beyond their main job.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The report, which polled more than 10,000 respondents from 175 countries including Singapore, said growing exposure to social media and technology might have shaped attitudes and made younger people in South-east Asia more open to having a side hustle. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor Gen Zers in Singapore, side hustles often stem from a desire for creative fulfilment, personal branding or income diversification. Social media certainly plays a role in normalising entrepreneurial ventures,\u201d said ACCA Singapore country manager Daniel Leung.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The national curriculum has also increasingly encouraged innovation and entrepreneurship among students in polytechnics and universities.\u00a0\u201cThat early encouragement has translated into greater confidence among young professionals to try something of their own, even while holding a full-time role,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

While some see their side gigs as a small passion project, others are keen to grow them bigger. <\/p>\n

Mr Tok Wei Cheng and Mr Jonathan Tan started building Acuppa, an online directory for home-based food and beverage (F&B) businesses in Singapore, when they were undergraduates. <\/p>\n

They found satisfaction in connecting these small businesses with residents living nearby, and do not charge for the listings. <\/p>\n

Mr Tok, 28, and Mr Tan, 27, now have full-time jobs in marketing and tech, respectively, but they regularly find time outside of work to visit some of the 140 listed businesses, shooting promotional videos for them, and to brainstorm ideas on how to improve the platform. <\/p>\n

The platform has grown bigger than expected, said Mr Tok. There is potential for monetisation, but the two founders are still considering it as they have to be prepared to put in more time and effort to scale the project further.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Acuppa founders Jonathan Tan (with camera), 27, and Tok Wei Cheng (right) at a shoot with Mr Samuel Quah, who runs home cafe Blank on June 21.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n

Based on his observations, Mr Tok said most home-based businesses on his platform are run by those with full-time jobs, and they operate mainly on weekends or weekday evenings. <\/p>\n

Tofu Tofu and That Day At Home are two examples. <\/p>\n

Ms Tris Su, 34, owner of Tofu Tofu, has been selling the trendy matcha latte from her Bedok home since March. Sales have grown from about 15 cups a weekend to more than 60 now. <\/p>\n

\u201cI genuinely enjoy the process, from whisking to packaging \u2013 it doesn\u2019t feel like a chore,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms Tris Su sold about 15 cups of matcha latte during Tofu Tofu\u2019s launch weekend in March 2025. Now, sales have grown about 4.5 times that figure over a weekend.<\/p>\n

PHOTO: TOFU TOFU<\/p>\n

The marketing professional is running her business as a \u201clow-key\u201d weekend hustle, and is keeping it \u201centirely separate\u201d from her full-time job to avoid conflict of interest. <\/p>\n

For Ms LX, the owner of That Day At Home, who requested anonymity, the inspiration for her home cafe in Punggol came during a trip to Bangkok, where she and her husband stumbled upon a small bar with a warm atmosphere and inviting music. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if we could create a similar vibe back in our own neighbourhood?\u201d she thought. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms LX\u2019s inspiration to start That Day At Home came from a small bar that she stumbled upon during a trip to Bangkok with her husband. <\/p>\n

PHOTO: THAT DAY AT HOME<\/p>\n

The couple experimented with different beans and brewing methods before they opened for business. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith matcha, I spent about a year trying different brands and ratios until I landed on a recipe that felt just right,\u201d Ms LX said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ms LX spent about a year trying different brands and ratios of matcha before nailing a recipe. <\/p>\n

PHOTO: THAT DAY AT HOME<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old, who works in the tech industry, said she is grateful that her employer has been supportive of her small venture. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beauty of it being a passion project is that it allows us to stay intentional, focusing on making good drinks and creating authentic moments with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several experts told ST that employers generally do not have issues with side-hustling employees who meet expectations at work. However, employers\u2019 tolerance levels can differ based on employee tenure, industry type and the nature of the work.<\/p>\n

Mr Jeffrey Li, co-founder of accounting and corporate services provider Berru.Co, said he appreciates employees who develop skills from their side gigs and apply them effectively at work. For instance, an assistant accountant helped his firm set up a customer relationship management system.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had accountants who run their own or family online businesses bring in fresh perspectives and practical skills that go beyond their day-to-day roles. These capabilities are often hard to build in a traditional accounting role alone,\u201d Mr Li said. <\/p>\n

Ms Juliet Tan, founder of human resources consultancy firm Emplifi, noted that some employers have invested in their employees\u2019 side ventures and have become their investors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But in certain industries, such as retail and F&B, employers are unlikely to approve any side gigs as they want their employees to rest on their day off.<\/p>\n

\u201cSide jobs can affect performance due to lack of rest and split attention,\u201d Ms Tan said. <\/p>\n

Mr Khelvin Xu, a disputes and employment lawyer and director at law firm Covenant Chambers, said it also boils down to the relationship between employees and their supervisors. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf they (employees) are meeting or exceeding expectations, their employer is more likely to see what\u00adever they are doing in a positive light.<\/p>\n

\u201cConversely, if they are not doing well, their employer may well latch onto their side hustle as a reason, and perhaps even use that as a pretext to push the employee towards the exit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a very general rule of thumb, if your side hustle is completely unrelated to your day job, and you are still meeting or exceeding expectations for your day job, then chances are less that you are in breach of this duty of good faith and fidelity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Xu added that if there are no clauses in an employment contract that expressly prohibit outside work, \u201cthe courts are generally reluctant to impose restrictions which would hamper employees from increasing their earnings in their spare time\u201d. <\/p>\n

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore said earnings derived from side hustles are subject to tax under self-employment income, even if the business is not registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Generally, side hustlers are required to file an income tax return when they receive a notification from Iras. <\/p>\n

If they do not hear from the taxman, they will have to declare their income in the preceding calendar year if:<\/p>\n