A Weekend Side Hustle That Actually Works

Hello!

I've been struggling to make ends meet lately, so I've been on the hunt for ways to earn some extra cash. A friend of mine recommended Work is Simple, and said I could get paid as soon as the next day. That's exactly what I needed!

Our main activity is production, logistics, and outsourcing services for hypermarkets and supermarkets, retail and wholesale networks, warehouse complexes, restaurant and hotel holdings, as well as marketing and advertising services.

I've worked with this company before, about 5 years ago. To be honest, I was impressed with the changes they've made - for the better. They've really stepped up their game.

Work is Simple is a tried-and-tested platform for flexible work in over 250 Russian cities. We're a direct employer. Our applicants on HH rate us as "very good" and over 90% would recommend us. To get started, just send in your application or give us a call - we work every day. We find work and flexible jobs for you on the same day, guaranteed!

The conditions are: - Work or flexible work with daily payments on site - Flexible schedule, no experience required

To get hired (now as a freelancer, and previously it was a GPH contract) you don't need to go to the office. You don't need to sit through group interviews like I did a few years ago. Just give them a call and ask them to add you to the staff database. But first, you need to register as a freelancer (if it's allowed to combine it with official employment).

Then you download the agency's app (only for Android, sorry iPhone users), where you'll get your personal badge with a unique number that you'll need to show companies when you start working with them.

After that, you browse through the job listings and pick the one that suits you. There are plenty of options (at least in my city), so you can find something that suits your skills. For girls, the most common jobs are cashier, sales assistant (they're cutting down on staff and listing it as RTZ in the app), and housekeeper. For guys, it's usually a warehouse worker, stocker, or delivery driver.

The work itself is pretty straightforward and easy. You don't need a lot of training, and you can start working today (no joke). If you're hired as a cashier, there's a short training session, but it's not a big deal. You'll be sent to your workstation right away.

I've been working with this agency since January, and I've become a regular at Gloria Jeans. It's a pretty comfortable gig, and I have to say, I prefer working with clothes over rotting food in supermarkets (just kidding). My shifts are usually 7 hours long, minus an hour for lunch, so that's 6 hours in total.

My tasks include tidying up the store, rearranging clothes, hanging them up by size, and occasionally dusting or putting up a new batch of underwear. It's pretty straightforward work, and I get paid 1080 rubles for 6 hours.

I've been paid the amount I was promised, and the fact that meals are already accounted for is a plus. My pay is deposited into my personal account, usually within a day of finishing my shift. To get paid, you need to upload the Work Log in the app, which the store administrator will fill out for you. A photo or scan will do.

I can transfer my pay to any bank card (I use Sber), but if I need a rush transfer, I'll have to pay a 30-ruble commission. Otherwise, my money arrives within 1-2 days. On top of my regular pay, I also get a tax compensation as a self-employed individual, which I need to pay for myself in the Moya Nalogo app.

Just keep in mind that there might be a delay in payments on weekends and holidays.

The only major downside to this company is that if you sign up for a shift but can't make it, and you don't cancel within 24 hours, you'll be charged a penalty. It used to be 500 rubles, but now it's 700, if I'm not mistaken. On the other hand, this system does encourage you to be responsible and show up to work if you've signed up.

One thing that's a bit frustrating is that you need to work at least once a week, or you'll get removed from the platform. So, if you're on a five-day workweek, you'll need to find time to work on your days off, like I do. I think it would be more practical to allow self-employed individuals to work a bit more flexibly, rather than forcing us to work every week. For me, it's only possible to work on holidays or during my main job's vacation time.

There have been times when I've signed up for a shift, only to have it cancelled at the last minute. Luckily, they do give you a heads up. Or, you know, you sign up for a certain time slot, but then they switch you to a completely different one. My friend recently signed up for a shift from 9 to 6, but without warning, they switched her to 11 PM to 7 AM. And since her workplace is a ways from her home, it's not exactly ideal. She had to either order a taxi (out of pocket) or cancel the shift altogether and pay a penalty. It's just not a great situation.

For me, this company isn't a viable option for a steady income, but as a side gig? Why not? When you're short on cash, it's easy to make a few thousand here. It's definitely better than pawning off your gold or racking up credit card debt.