Discussion on moonlighting: Is it an issue?

Meaning of 'moonlighting':
Moonlight has been taken from the word "Moonlighter," which means one who takes up a second job during the night
and works by the moonlight. Moonlighting refers to a side job in addition to one's primary employment. In
moonlighting, such side jobs are often taken by employees in secret, without informing the employer.

Is moonlighting a problem?
The IT sector has split opinions when it comes to moonlighting. There are some tech companies that call
moonlighting plain cheating and a breach of contract between the employee and the employer. They contend it is a
threat to their privacy and confidentiality.

Others also avow it to be harmful for the productivity of the employee, which in turn affects the productivity of a
company. In a July poll of 400 employees in the IT and ITES industry by Kotak Institutional Equities, it was
discovered that "65% knew of people seeking part-time jobs or moonlighting while working from home."

Employee perspective
Diya’s story: Diya, a 32-year-old from Bangalore, logs on remotely for an eight-hour shift as a software engineer in an
IT company. She works hard, but once the workday is over, she stays in professional mode, logging in to her second
job, also in IT. “I am very good with animation and am doing a project where I make almost as much as I do in my
main job, working fewer hours. "It also helps me hone my skills and increase my revenue stream,” she says.
Diya is moonlighting — holding down a full-time job while simultaneously selling her skills to another employer. She
doesn’t see anything wrong with it; her organisation requires her to work around 40 hours per week, and as long as
she does that honestly, she believes there’s no reason she shouldn’t have a side hustle.
Diya rejects the idea that she might be cheating her primary employer, saying that she’s not slacking off at her job.
“When I am a good performer at my primary job and give it my best, and then work for someone else after working
hours, I only think that makes me an extremely motivated and hard-working person, not one who is cheating or
shirking.”

Rajan’s story: Rajan, 28, works full time for a leading software company in Bangalore, and also has his own YouTube
channel, which he monetizes through advertisements and runs anonymously. “I belong to a middle-class family and
have ambitions of studying abroad, and this will help me fund it,” he says. “The pandemic made me realise that one
has to be prepared for the unexpected and have a buffer of savings. "I work from home, so I am able to manage both
well.”

Employer perspective
Rishad Premji, the chairman of Indian tech and consulting firm Wipro, which recently fired 300 workers for taking
second jobs with rival companies, spoke out strongly about moonlighting in the tech industry: “This is cheating - plain
and simple,” he tweeted.
The Wipro firings have increased conversations around the topic; some companies have issued dire warnings to
employees not to work for other firms or are trying to increase worker monitoring. Other business leaders are taking a
more relaxed line, arguing that young people are only trying to get ahead. What’s clear is that, as technology opens
up more avenues for ambitious young workers to sell their skills and top up their income, companies will need to work
out what they will and will not allow workers to do in a way that makes sense to both parties.

The debate: Motivated or ‘cheating’? Side hustle vs conflict of interest? Legal or not?

Source: BBC, TOI, Legal service India

About the speaker:

Roli Singh is the Head of HRM at VFI SLK. She is a seasoned HR leader with extensive experience in service
industries like consulting, reinsurance, and technology across global organisations. Roli has expertise across the
employee lifecycle and has helped organisations in fast-paced ramp-ups, designing and leading employee
experiences, talent management strategies, and culture-building initiatives.