Moonlighting

Moonlighting is taking up a second employment or engaging in additional work outside of a regular job. Individuals take up extra work after normal hours or on their holidays and week offs. The driving force behind this practice is earning extra income and a regular salary.

Employee moonlighting can result from financial necessity, career advancement, or personal hobbies and interests. Some individuals may engage in additional work to explore new professional opportunities or change their career paths. Furthermore, it may enable individuals to obtain other skills or experience in a different industry or field.

• Moonlighting is the practice of employees taking up additional work or engaging in second employment outside of their regular jobs. The primary motivation behind extra work is to earn additional income alongside a regular salary.
• Several factors may influence an employee to engage in additional work, including financial requirements and obligations, pursuing hobbies and creative interests, acquiring skills and experience for career advancements, and exploring new industries or alternative career options.
• However, some companies may have reservations about this act as it may negatively impact employee productivity and performance. Furthermore, employees may engage with organizations competing against their primary employer or breach confidentiality.

Moonlighting is when individuals take up an additional job or do extra work outside their regular employment. The term originated from the concept that individuals would work under the moonlight to earn extra income. It is increasingly becoming common in various industries and professions.

Individuals may engage in this practice for several reasons, including financial obligations, economic stability, career advancement goals, and pursuing their interests and hobbies. Moreover, they may take up additional work to gain new skills, explore different industries or roles, or test alternative career options before entirely transitioning to a new career path. However, companies may establish rules and restrictions on employee moonlighting as this practice may harm the employer's interest or breach their confidentiality.

The types are as follows:

• Blue-moonlighting: It is a situation where it becomes difficult for an individual to manage multiple jobs simultaneously.
• Quarter-moonlighting: In this type, an individual takes up a part-time job along with the primary one.
• Half-moonlighting: Here, employees have more hours than the usual part-time, where they devote almost or over half of their time to part-time work.
• Full-moonlighting: This type involves engaging in two full-time professional jobs. Individuals may start their businesses or take up additional work without causing any impact on their primary job.

Let us understand this practice with a few examples:

Example #1

Suppose Sarah is a full-time human resource executive for a tech company. However, she has a passion for photography and decided to work as a freelance photographer. After her regular work hours and week off, Sarah takes up photography assignments for various events. This engagement enables her to pursue her creative passion and earn extra income outside her regular job. This is a moonlighting example.

Example #2

According to a study by ResumeBuilder.com, 69% of remote workers in the United States are working a second job, while 37% have a second full-time job, and 32% have a side hustle. It is a common practice in the US and several European countries to work additional jobs. However, the pandemic catalyzed the emerging and resultant surge in such activities, especially in the IT/ITES sector.

The work-from-home benefits during the pandemic made it easier for an employee to take additional jobs without informing the primary employer. This is a moonlighting example.

Some steps to find moonlighting are as follows:

• Employers may conduct further investigations if they notice significant employee performance changes, frequent absences, or signs of fatigue or burnout. They have to seek concrete evidence or behavior patterns that suggest such occurrences.
• Employers must gather information discreetly. They can track an employee's public social media profiles or professional networking sites to see if they openly advertise their activities. However, employers must avoid invading employees' privacy or engaging in unethical practices to obtain information.
• Employers may track an individual's financial records or conduct background screening to verify if they are engaging in additional employment.

Let us discuss a few ways of dealing with moonlighting:

• Employers may arrange a private meeting with the employee to discuss their concerns. They must communicate the meeting's purpose clearly and allow the employee to share their perspective.
• If the additional employment activities violate the company policies, employers must follow the appropriate disciplinary procedures stated in the organization's policies. It may include issuing a warning, implementing a probationary period, or taking further disciplinary action based on the severity of the violation, like suspension or termination.
• Employers must offer guidance and support to the employee based on the circumstances. If employees take up additional work due to financial difficulties, employers must consider providing resources or referring them to employee assistance programs that can help address their needs.
• Employers must allow systematic increments in salary and offer overtime salary for additional work hours.
• After addressing the issue, the employers must monitor the employee's behavior and performance and provide additional guidance or support when necessary. 

The advantages are as follows:

• One of the primary benefits is that it allows an opportunity to earn extra income. The additional income from multiple jobs may help alleviate financial stress and offer financial freedom.
• It can provide individuals with the opportunity to develop and enhance new skills. This process can contribute to personal and professional growth. Moreover, it may improve their career advancement opportunities.
• This occupation allows individuals to explore different career paths or industries without fully committing to a career change. It enables them to explore personal interests, passions, or hobbies and determine if they can pursue them as a full-time occupation.
• This practice usually offers more flexibility in terms of work schedules and arrangements. It allows individuals to choose the projects or clients they want to work with and set their responsibilities and work hours.

The disadvantages of moonlighting are:

• Taking on additional work may disrupt the work-life balance, resulting in increased stress and reduced personal time. It may affect an individual's health and overall well-being.
• Splitting time, effort, and energy between jobs can impact focus and concentration. It could lead to lower performance in the primary and additional jobs. The decrease in productivity may lead to dissatisfaction from employers or clients.
• Engaging in multiple jobs can lead to conflicts of interest, mainly if the secondary position competes directly with the primary job or violates its agreements. This practice may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, or the employer's interests, straining professional relationships and may even lead to termination.
• One of the disadvantages of moonlighting is that it may raise ethical and legal issues, mainly if it violates contractual agreements, breaches intellectual property rights, or involves unethical practices. 

The differences are as follows:

• Moonlighting: This is the practice where employees take up additional employment despite having a primary job. They do it mainly for earning extra income and improving their economic status. It may require significant time and effort as it involves working outside of regular working hours or on the day offs.
• Side Hustle: This involves starting a business, offering freelance services, or creating and selling products. Personal interests and passions drive side hustles. They offer flexibility in terms of working hours and project selection. These jobs provide financial benefits and personal fulfillment by pursuing one's desires and creating a private business or project.

The differences are:

• Moonlighting: This is the practice of taking on additional work, usually a second job and a primary job. It often involves working during non-traditional work hours, like outside of work hours or on the weekends, to increase the income source or explore alternative career paths. This practice's primary motivation is to earn extra money and improve financial stability. It requires individuals to juggle their primary job responsibilities with the demands of the secondary job, which can negatively impact their work-life balance and overall well-being.
• Sunlighting: This is the practice of pursuing personal projects, hobbies, or entrepreneurial opportunities outside of an employee's regular work hours. It allows individuals to explore their passions, interests, and creativity. This occupation may contribute to personal growth, skill development, and the pursuit of individual goals. It is self-driven and offers individuals autonomy and the opportunity to build something outside their primary employment.

This article has been a guide to Moonlighting and its meaning. We explain its types, examples, how to find & deal with it, advantages, & comparison with side hustle. You may also find some useful articles here -

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