Moonlighting - Yay or Nay? [Part 1]

With the rise in work-from-home and hybrid options, employees are secretly taking up second jobs. Recently, you might have come across headlines like “Wipro Fires 300 Employees for Moonlighting," Infosys' internal communication titled "No Double Lives," stating that "dual employment is not permitted,” and “IBM India Dubs Moonlighting as Unethical Practice.”

We’re sure you've heard about the rise in moonlighting - which simply means having a second job. And we're not talking about holding down two part-time jobs at once; we're talking about secretly taking on a second job on top of your regular full-time job, potentially unbeknownst to your employer. And according to some, this is a growing trend that has employers worried.

Why is this happening?

There are many reasons why people moonlight. In some cases, it’s to supplement their full-time job income, while others do so because they need extra money to cover expenses like rent or groceries or want to save up for early retirement. It can also be because they want to stay mentally stimulated, ramp up their skills, or make their existing job more interesting and less repetitive.

When employers discover that their employees are moonlighting without permission, they are frequently shocked, upset, and feel betrayed – even if the employees have been doing it for years. Why is this? Is it okay for employees to work two jobs? Should employers be allowed to fire employees who do so without permission? Are employees really required to let their employers know about their other sources of income?

So, why do some employers feel betrayed by their employees' moonlighting??

It's certainly not because they want them to work less; on the contrary, most companies encourage their employees to get out there and network, make connections, and grow professionally. There is, however, one major reason why employers frown on covert moonlighting: TRUST.?

If an employee is working for two companies at once and doesn't disclose this information to their employer, then what happens when their primary company needs them urgently? Who will pick up the slack?

Employers want their employees to be completely focused on their jobs, and also want them to be transparent about their workloads so that they can plan accordingly. Unfortunately, when someone has another job on the side and doesn't tell anyone about it, they aren't giving their employers the information they need to make sure they can continue doing great work while also taking care of themselves outside of work hours. The latter part gains prominence considering the recent conversations centered around employee wellness, well-being, and mental health. How does moonlighting affect an employee's emotional health?

Moonlighting has always been supported, but now there’s a sudden shift in opinions

Just a decade ago, people were encouraged and praised for having two jobs and working hard. Many saw this as inspiration and motivation to do more and go beyond their limits. Even today, "hustle culture" pushes people to always keep busy and have side hustles.

But, suddenly, there are employees who are made to feel guilty about doing something extra because it may seem like they are betraying their employer.

Does moonlighting mean you're a bad employee?

The short answer is no. Moonlighting has been around for ages, and it's not going away anytime soon. But that doesn't mean you can run off and do whatever you want without thinking about the consequences.

We're not saying that you should jump into moonlighting without thinking about it first; we're just saying that some people find it necessary to do so in order to make ends meet, or want to explore their interests more and make some money along the way. But what's interesting is how employers are reacting to this phenomenon.?

Some companies are firing employees who take on extra gigs without letting their bosses know about it first. Others are encouraging their employees to take part-time jobs outside of their primary careers in order to gain experience and skill sets that can help them in their jobs.?

Overall, there seems to be a mixed bag of opinions when it comes to moonlighting. Therefore, it’s essential to explore both sides of this phenomenon before drawing a conclusion.

In the next edition of our newsletter, we’ll present our arguments for and against moonlighting and deliver our verdict. So, stay tuned for it!

In the meantime, what is your opinion on moonlighting? There’s a lot of nuance to this situation, and we’d love to hear your take on this!