Issues of Moonlighting

Moonlighting simply refers to the act of having a second job, or working for extra projects, gigs, or employers that counts as a secondary source of income, outside one’s working hours.

Issue around Moonlighting

• While Swiggy launched a moonlighting policy allowing its employees to work on their passion projects outside of their work (calling it a step towards a “remote-first organization”).
• Rishad Premji, Wipro’s chairman, called the concept of moonlighting in the tech industry as cheating.

Argument in favor of Moonlighting

• Moonlighting allows workers to work for side projects once they finish their shift timings, without compromising on their primary employment.
• Gaining extra profits while also helping them hone their skills.
• Personal Choice: After the company’s shift timings, a person is free to do whatever he/she wants to do as a passion project or side gig.
• Builds a Good Profile: Many universities abroad consider such side projects as valuable for admission into professional courses.

Argument against Moonlighting

• An employee is required and expected to give his entire working time, effort, and energy to the employer’s interest.
• Legal but may not be Ethical: There is no overarching law which prohibits a person from doing multiple jobs. However, a person with a similar nature of jobs may spark breach of confidentiality issues.
• Not Legal in some States: There restriction is on double employment under the Factories Act, but not applicable to IT companies in some states.
• Moonlighting turns to Daylighting: Side jobs may take away the employee’s productivity.
• Fear of leakage of confidential information of the primary job.
• Moonlighting Clause: Some companies have introduced a moonlighting clause that puts a restriction on the double employment of an employee.

Conclusion

Moonlighting should be a choice unless it affects the efficiency and integrity of employees’ primary work duty.