Why major IT companies are making Dual employment and moonlighting an ethical issue?

The pandemic caused several micro-disruptions for work and the workforce, drawing trends such as moonlighting to the fore. Dual employment also known as moonlighting is about pursuing more than one job at a time. Employees have been found working in multiple roles with two organizations simultaneously, causing risks and concerns around data security, confidentiality, and revenue losses.

What is 'moonlighting':

Moonlight has been taken from the word 'Moonlighter' which means one who takes up a second workshop during the night and works by the moonlight. This was used in 1882 when an organized band that carried out agrarian outrages in Ireland used to commit crimes like murders and thefts at night. Moonlighter in American English meant 'one who goes serenading during the moonlight nights.'

Why moonlighting occurs?

Moonlighting has been described as unethical and a threat to the productivity and privacy policies of the companies, however, if we see this phenomenon from the perspective of such a person who is engaged in dual employment, we will better understand the reasons behind it.

Layoffs

Layoffs basically mean that the employees of a company are discharged for a temporary or permanent period. Massive layoffs are but a common scenario in the present-day economy. Reportedly, more than 15 thousand employees have been laid off this year, which includes the names of some unicorn start-ups like BYJU, meesho, etc. These occurrences create economically and mentally vulnerable and desperate situations for the people. Hence, employees prefer to have a second job that they can rely upon in case any layoffs happen.

Change of career

People who want to change their career paths occasionally take on a second job to become accustomed to it. If you don't have a formal background in your target industry, people moonlight for a side job that gives them the experience they need to later land lucrative employment in it. People who want to change their career paths occasionally take on a second job to become accustomed to it.

You can keep working at your current employment while looking for side jobs or freelance possibilities in whatever industry you want. If you don't already have a formal foundation in your field, many moonlight a side job to provide them the experience they need to later get lucrative employment.

Passion/ Creativity

Sometimes the primary job becomes too monotonous and mundane for the employee. This not only affects his productivity but also creates a mental strain on the employee. Employees take up jobs that interest them to avoid this and take a break from the everyday humdrum tasks.

Moonlighting – fair or foul?

Over the last few weeks, all of us have been hearing about people working in co-employment and multiple employments and calling that moonlighting. For Kamal Kamal Karanth, who is the Co-founder at Xpheno, that's not moonlighting at all. He explained, "classically, moonlighting is a concept where people have a daylight job and then they also do moonlighting, however, in a non-conflicting way."

If the concept of dual employment had been this easy and simple, then things would have continued without a ripple. But the conflict lies in shared time, said Piyush Raj, Co-founder of BRIDGENTECH. "People have been talking about various forms of moonlighting, such as somebody trying to take up another hobby or building their start-up during their office work. The main dispute, according to Raj, is not the type of work being done, but rather when it is being done.

What is Dual employment?

Dual employment is the practice of working two jobs at once. Although the phrase "dual employment" can apply to various situations, it's most frequently used to describe persons with a full-time day job and a second, part-time job requiring fewer than 20 hours per week.

There are several reasons why someone would decide to work two jobs. Your income from a job that doesn't pay enough may be supplemental, you may desire to change careers and have a job you can fit around your primary job, or you may have additional obligations that make it challenging to work a full-time job, such as raising children or taking care of a loved one.

Moonlighting and dual work are suitable methods to increase your income, pursue other hobbies, or increase your revenue. Still, some major IT companies are making it an ethical issue and are against the practice.

Before getting deep into this topic, people are still confused with both terms. So let us discuss some significant differences and how moonlighting differs from dual employment.

Moonlighting is performing a side job in addition to another job, whereas dual employment involves working two jobs simultaneously. You may achieve your goals and find fulfillment in both methods.