Side hustle: office workers juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet

The 27-year-old works as a communications officer at a university in HCMC and also does design work for two advertising companies.

"I need the extra work because my monthly salary of VND10 million (US$400) is only enough to cover expenses, with nothing left for savings or to support my parents," she tells VnExpress.

Until 2021 she only had on one side job that fetched VND1-2 million a month. But during the two years of remote work due to Covid-19 she took on more jobs, increasing her total income to VND25 million per month. When she started going back to office, Bich continued her side jobs in secret, occasionally staying until midnight to work on personal projects, utilizing office facilities.

Thanh Nhu during her company trip to Taiwan in early 2024. Photo courtesy of Nhu

Thanh Nhu, 40, a customer service employee at a transport company in Hanoi, earns VND8 million a month. Before the pandemic her income and her husband’s were sufficient to cover their living expenses and mortgage payments.

But with him unemployed for the past two years and their son requiring additional tutoring, she started selling cosmetics online to earn extra money. At the office she spends half her time on the side job, handling customers’ messages and posting product advertisements and carrying several orders awaiting shipment. She sometimes leaves early, ostensibly to pick up her son but actually to stock up on goods.

She says: "My job isn't too demanding, and the working hours are flexible, and so I use my free time to earn extra money. Many colleagues do the same due to the low salary." She earns over VND10 million a month from her side gig and has no intention of quitting her main job, which offers insurance benefits and an environment where she can socialize with colleagues.

A VnExpress survey in March 2023 found over 50% of people wanting to do side jobs to increase their income. A 2022 survey by Anphabe found that 13% of knowledge workers juggle full- and part-time jobs.

Associate Professor Dr Do Minh Cuong, deputy director of the Business Culture Institute, says while there has been little research into this issue, side gigs have been a long-standing reality in Vietnam. The primary reason is low wages, he says, pointing out that when basic living needs are not met, it is inevitable people will take on multiple jobs.

Furthermore, the fact that people do side jobs during office hours indicates lax management and a lack of motivation by supervisors, he says. "Most studies show that this trend is pursued mainly by those with low to medium incomes and young people seeking challenges."

Le Anh Tu of Van Lang University’s department of public relations and communications says the need for multiple jobs rose after the pandemic as many companies laid off people or reduced salaries. Many have opted to work harder instead of adopting frugal lifestyles, he claims. But the phenomenon of people doing multiple jobs is not exclusive to Vietnam, he says.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of October 2023 some 412,000 Americans held two full-time jobs simultaneously, a third up from 2019.

It is becoming a new trend, with "overemployed" individuals holding two full-time jobs without either employer knowing. Numerous "overemployed" groups have sprung up on social media, with consultants advising on how to navigate company regulations.

Cuong thinks using office hours to do side jobs is more harmful than beneficial. A violation of professional ethics, it can leave people overwhelmed and in constant fear of being discovered, he says.

Nhu says her frequent absence during office hours to handle personal business led to her being reported by colleagues, resulting in a warning and a downgrading of her performance rating, which affected her year-end bonuses.

She argues: "As long as I complete my work, whether I do personal or main work during office hours is my business. I keep trying my best, but if salaries don't increase, my family will starve. The management is silent about the low salaries."

Cuong warns that this situation affects companies, lowering revenues and increasing utility costs, impacting discipline, which can lead to employee disengagement. Duc Huy, 40, a manager at an advertising company in Hanoi, often turns a blind eye to subordinates working multiple jobs. Since the company pays lower wages than before the pandemic, he fears being too strict could lead to the departure of skilled workers, replacing whom will require a lot of time and effort.

"No manager wants employees to betray the company, but the situation is unavoidable. When salaries increase and revenues stabilize, I will address the issue."

To prevent side jobs from encroaching on employees’ work, Cuong says managers should consider raising salaries or creating reward funds. Management should build a strong corporate culture, tighten supervision and instill discipline to avoid a situation where some employees have "one foot out the door," he adds.