Effect of moonlighting on getting hired in the MNC

Indian multinational company, Wipro is in the news for firing 300 workers who were allegedly involved in moonlighting against its policy. According to the company the workers were working for the competitors while being on the payroll of the company.

 But what is moonlighting? Let’s learn about it.

Moonlighting means taking up a alternate job or multiple other work assignments other than that from one’s full- time job. Companies have opposed the practice, saying that workers doing multiple jobs can impact their productivity.

Moonlighting has become a content of debate in the IT industry as working from home( WFH) became the normal norm during the Covid- 19 pandemic, which is believed to have led to a rise in binary employment.

Still, Indian IT companies are biased when it comes to moonlighting. For some, it's unethical while others call it the need of the hour.

Why are companies against moonlighting?

Businesses are against the approach as according to them having staff perform multiple tasks can reduce productivity. As working from home became the norm during the Covid- 19 pandemic, which is allowed to have caused an increase in binary employment, moonlighting has come under discussion in the IT industry.

Food tech startup, Swiggy, was the first company to advertise an sanctioned policy allowing its workers to take up works or systems outside of their regular employment at the company during the hours down from work. Still, multi working at startups has been a common practice.

Why is moonlighting in the news lately?

During the COVID- 19 pandemic, the tendency of establishing side businesses or systems came apparent. It handed its staff with the insulation they needed so they could work coincidently on systems for other businesses.

According to a recent Kotak Institutional Equities bean of 400 persons working in the IT and ITe'S diligence, 65 per cent of repliers knew of people who were looking for part- time work or moonlighting from home. Hence, moonlighting has inspired disagreeing responses from IT organizations in recent weeks. The content of moonlighting has sparked new conversations and polarized shoes among tech experts. The ethical and legal issues of moonlighting are the main motives of discussion.

Moonlighting is the practice of working multiple jobs without the knowledge of one’s primary employer after regular business hours.

Moonlighting could be a fashion to maintain capability and productivity while also avoiding advancement, learning new chops, and boosting passion.

Moonlighting may also contradict the basic purpose of rest hours, leaves, and leave, while also having a negative impact on workers ’ physical and mental health and contributing to collapse.

 Losing expertise , data, and technology to rivals will also be a trouble to the employer.