Detail Insights

Moonlighting refers to the practice of working for one organization while also taking up additional jobs and responsibilities, usually without the employer's knowledge. This might be done to increase your income, keep yourself meaningfully engaged or make the best use of your skills and interests. It’s a common practice for doctors to consult after working hours, teachers involved in coaching, consultants and freelancers to work for several companies, and employees to participate in artistic creative activities like volunteering, singing, music, theatre, social media content creation, and so forth. However, the issue arises when you are either working under two formal legal agreements or for your organization's rival company.

Professional two-timing, AKA employee moonlighting has been doing rounds since the pandemic triggered the remote work model and now, is continuing with the hybrid model, the new world of work.

According to a Kotak Institutional Equities survey, 65% of IT/ITeS respondents were chasing part-time opportunities. But the discussion has acquired importance now that organizations, including IT, are pulling back WFH.  

This ongoing discussion in the tech business has gained grip after the news of Wipro terminating 300 employees for moonlighting and Chairman Rishad Premji stated it as a violation of the 'act of integrity.'

Tech businesses are divided in their differing viewpoints on the topic, which is now the matter of the moment.

C.P. Gurnani, CEO and Managing Director of Tech Mahindra has come in favour of moonlighting from the big tech enterprises, stating that "I have no issues allowing someone who is achieving the productivity and efficiency standards to earn some extra cash. I would like to make it a policy. So, if you decide to do it, cheers to that, but be honest about it."

On the other hand, the CEO of TCS, N Ganapathy Subramaniam described it as an "ethical issue". When choices like this are made for short-term gains, you miss out in the long run, he added.

While legacy IT firms like Wipro, TCS, and Infosys have been straightforward about rejecting moonlighting, new-age startups and tech players have differing opinions. While some disagree with the viewpoint, several others have shown green signals to employees to pursue side hustles and are attempting to keep a balanced approach.

Amidst a lot of chatter on this issue, the number of probes into employees working two jobs concurrently has dramatically increased. Organizations, particularly those in the technology sector, are now reaching out to legal professionals to help them re-examine and redraft existing employment contracts to address moonlighting. Legal experts and attorneys claim that restrictive dual employment regulations may bound employees with employers in regard to confidentiality violation, loss of productivity, single employment terms, or non-compete clauses.

Do you believe that working many jobs is ethically acceptable? What are your opinions on moonlighting?

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