In today's fast-paced world, employees often wear many hats. Between juggling demanding jobs, personal lives, and side hustles, it's no surprise that burnout is a growing concern. But how do you, as a manager, differentiate between a productive employee taking on extra work (moonlighting) and someone on the verge of exhaustion? Recognizing the signs is crucial for fostering a healthy and thriving work environment.

What is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting refers to taking on a second job outside of one's primary employment. This can range from freelance work to consulting gigs, or even driving for a ride-sharing service. Employees moonlight for various reasons, such as supplementing their income, pursuing passions, or gaining new skills.

While moonlighting can be beneficial for both employees and businesses (offering a more well-rounded workforce), it's important to ensure it doesn't come at the cost of employee well-being and performance in their primary role.

Burnout vs. Moonlighting Enthusiasm

The key to distinguishing between a healthy side hustle and the warning signs of burnout lies in understanding the impact on your employees. Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

Energy Levels:

  • Moonlighting Enthusiast: Maintains good energy levels, often viewing their side hustle as a source of rejuvenation and accomplishment.
  • Burned Out Employee: Experiences chronic fatigue, both physically and emotionally. Work feels draining, and there's little to no energy left for personal pursuits.

Engagement:

  • Moonlighting Enthusiast: Remains engaged and motivated in their primary job. They can effectively compartmentalize their time and responsibilities.
  • Burned Out Employee: Shows signs of disengagement, cynicism, and a decline in overall work quality. Deadlines are missed, and participation in meetings becomes minimal.

Attitude:

  • Moonlighting Enthusiast: Maintains a positive and optimistic attitude. They see their side hustle as an opportunity for growth.
  • Burned Out Employee: Develops a negative and critical outlook. They may become increasingly frustrated and irritable, both towards colleagues and work itself.

Time Management:

  • Moonlighting Enthusiast: Demonstrates strong time management skills. They effectively balance their work and personal lives, ensuring their side hustle doesn't bleed into their primary job. Here, a time tracking tool becomes their secret weapon. These applications allow employees to monitor how they spend their time, identify areas for improvement, and ensure they're dedicating enough focus to their core responsibilities. Popular options include Workstatus, Toggl, RescueTime, and Clockify. By using a time tracking tool, moonlighters can gain valuable insights into their workflow and identify opportunities for optimization. This can help them carve out dedicated time for their side hustle without sacrificing their performance in their primary job.

  • Burned Out Employee: Struggles with time management. They may miss deadlines or appear overwhelmed due to overcommitment.

Health:

  • Moonlighting Enthusiast: Generally maintains good physical and mental health. Their side hustle doesn't negatively impact their well-being.
  • Burned Out Employee: May experience physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, and trouble sleeping. They might also exhibit signs of anxiety and depression.

Open Communication is Key

As a manager, fostering open communication with your team is crucial for identifying potential burnout. Here are some tips:

  • Schedule regular one-on-one meetings: Use these sessions to check in on your employees' well-being, workload, and overall satisfaction. Encourage them to voice any concerns they might have.
  • Normalize open communication: Create a safe space where employees feel comfortable discussing their workload and personal commitments. Let them know you're there to support them, not judge them.
  • Be attentive: Pay attention to behavioral changes and declining work quality. Don't hesitate to address these issues directly and offer support.

Preventing Burnout and Supporting Moonlighters

Here are some proactive measures you can take to prevent burnout and support employees who moonlight:

  • Promote work-life balance: Encourage employees to take breaks, utilize their paid time off, and disconnect after work hours.
  • Offer flexible work arrangements: Consider flexible scheduling options like remote work or compressed workweeks to help employees manage their time more effectively.
  • Implement clear communication policies: Ensure everyone understands expectations regarding overtime calculation, availability outside of work hours, and communication protocols.
  • Provide resources for time management: Offer workshops or training sessions on effective time management strategies, including tools and techniques. There are also many helpful online resources, such as time management calculators [Overtime calculator], to assist employees in scheduling their workload.
  • Recognize and reward accomplishments: Acknowledge and appreciate employee contributions, both in their primary role and their side hustles (if it doesn't violate company policies).

Conclusion

By recognizing the signs of burnout and supporting employees who moonlight, you can create a work environment that fosters well-being, productivity, and overall employee satisfaction. Remember, a happy and healthy workforce is a productive workforce.