Can Moonlighting increase Employee Satisfaction?

Arush is super-happy today. His company has permitted him to take up external projects for economic consideration based on internal approvals. His company did an employee survey and the results revealed that some employees are getting opportunities to render gig services outside work leveraging their professional skills and employees would like to have the flexibility. The company also believes that these experiences might bring out the best in the employees, sharpen their skills & also boost their personal & professional lives. Now Arush can pursue his passion outside the workplace and create his side hustle.

As a coach, I work with multiple organizations like BetterUp , Torch Coaching , Growthspace , and others. I get coachees from all of them and I am able to control the time I spend with each platform individually. Yes, I understand that the context for me is slightly different but it is similar to not putting all your eggs in one basket. It allows me to create flexibility and also pursue what I am most passionate about. These organizations also benefit as they get the best coachees to serve their clients.

If I go back a few years and while I was in a full-time job Mentora , the need for Moonlighting did not arise because of three reasons -

1. I was involved with work that had the highest impact on the business and I was passionate about it.
2. I was paid well. ??
3. And finally, there was so much work that I did not have the time!

A few months ago, we all felt the heat rise around Moonlighting when 维布络 terminated around 300 employees on the grounds of moonlighting as confirmatory evidence of multiple payments to the provident fund account was found. On the other hand, Swiggy announced a moonlighting policy for its employees where they could take up other work with no conflict of interest on weekends and outside office hours. Firms like Wipro, TCS, Infosys, etc, have taken a stance against moonlighting. These firms view moonlighting as a violation of integrity by working for their competitors. Calling the practice unethical.

What is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting is the practice of an employee engaging in a second job or multiple jobs apart from being a full-time employee at a firm, usually without letting the first employer know. The increasing need for qualified workers, the development of new skills, the culture of work from anywhere (WFA) and work from home (WFH), existing pay structures, and the desire to supplement income are some of the main causes of the recent rise in moonlighting.?

Why is it on the rise?

The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to the growing trend of moonlighting with its remote working options, adaptable work hours, lack of commute requirements, and loss of regular employment. Most businesses do not favor this practice because they fear that this may lead to employee inefficiency at the workplace. They believe that there is a high threat of data leaks and IP rights issues concerning clients and business partners.?

There is evidence to show that moonlighting might increase job satisfaction but might have an inverse impact on organizational commitment. (Effect of Job Satisfaction on Moonlighting Intentions: Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment and Work Engagement of Employees in Moonlighting: A Moderated Mediation Model From a Boundaryless Career Perspective )

The attitude that employees have toward their job greatly impacts their productivity. Employee behavior may be greatly influenced by two specific job attitudes, namely job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The more the employees are happy and satisfied with their jobs, the better their performance.

What can organizations do?

Organizations need to devise a Moonlighting policy and communicate with the employees. In addition to defining what "outside employment" means to the company, the policy should also include a general hindrance clause, ask for notices of outside employment, address impacted employees, mention any conflicts of interest, specify the use of company resources, clarify your position on secondary work on company property, and declare consequences for violations. If a moonlighting policy is well-written and signed as part of the new hire paperwork, the policy will eliminate any ambiguity or confusion and serve as a resource for the employee as well as the company.

According to Frederick Herzberg’s ‘Two-Factor Theory’ job dissatisfaction comes from poor company policies, low salary, working conditions etc. The company's flexible policy allows employees to contribute a little extra income. By enabling moonlighting in the company, employees earn extra income, start a side business, or monetize a hobby, which keeps them motivated. This reduces boredom and earns them a chance to learn new skills. This also saves the firm the hassle of redesigning jobs to keep employees motivated.??

In recent years, Moonlighting has prompted organizations to change their cultures to be more aligned with employers' and employees' interests. Essentially, corporate culture refers to a set of beliefs, assumptions, and values that help individuals understand whether their behavior is acceptable within an organization and emphasize honesty, integrity, and trust.? If a company's values, norms, and beliefs are strong enough, an employee who moonlights will be loyal to the company, hold it in high regard, and avoid leaking any company information. Employees who are involved in other jobs can also contribute ideas that may be incorporated into the firm's culture to stay competitive and avoid complacency.?

In crux, ensure that-

• Moonlighting may be allowed if it’s done during non-working hours as it does not violate contractual obligations.
• Flexible work arrangements should be made for candidates who wish to take other jobs
• Find out if your company has moonlighting policy, if it doesn’t have a policy, share details on why you are keen on doing it
• If the company allows you to side hustle, set a clear boundary.
• If there are any issues that arise during moonlighting, which may impact your existing job commitment, flag them to your employer & how you plan to resolve them.

Do share in the comments if you have experienced Moonlighting (yourself, a colleague or maybe a direct report) and how did it impact your job satisfaction!