Employee Moonlighting

Employee Moonlighting

🔥NEW You may have come across one of your colleagues or subordinates working a second job either on weekday evenings or on weekends. For instance, an employee might work the day shift as an Accountant in one firm, whereas over the weekend s/he might be working as an accounting consultant for his/her personal clients. Similarly, another employee working the usual 9 to 5 job might be conducting yoga classes every evening out of a passion for fitness. Such instances resemble Moonlighting, which refers to 'the practice of working at a second or an additional job outside normal business hours.'


There would have been a time employees were engaged in moonlighting when they were underpaid and feared losing their jobs if they asked for an increase. However, with changing times, the outlook towards moonlighting has changed as well. People from different professions and income groups now endeavor to supplement their primary income through moonlighting or side hustles. Moonlighting enables employees to earn extra money, upgrade their skills, pursue a passion, start a business or get enjoyment from the work they do. Here are some of the pros and cons of moonlighting:

Pros of Moonlighting. Advantages

1. It allows employees to fulfill their needs, interests, and passions on a personal level, thus providing them with a sense of satisfaction.
2. Employees often look forward to working on second jobs if they have low feelings of job security from their first main job.
3. Moonlighting enables employees to get additional income. This might relieve the pressure on organizations to increase employees' wages.
4. Sometimes, the skills employees learn on their second job are also applicable to their main job. In this case, it increases the efficiency of employees. For instance, employee running a side business on weekends may learn many entrepreneurial skills that benefit their main job.
5. A second job also means that the employee has a larger network of connections. That could be useful while searching for a new client base or to get help from contacts to solve complicated problems related to their first job.
6. Approving employees to continue a second job helps strengthen trust and transparency between the employee-employer relationship, thus enabling an open organizational culture.

Cons of Moonlighting. Disadvantages

1. If employees spend many hours working on their second jobs, it might result in exhaustion, less productivity, and poor attentiveness on their main job.
2. Sleep deprivation, increase in screen time can result in increased stress and burnout for employees. Consequently, it might have adverse effects on their mental and physical well-being.
3. It might threaten the employee's company if one shares secrets in case they are moonlighting with a competitor or an organization related to the same field.
4. Employees often use company resources such as computers, printers, or other devices to complete their second job duties. This may increase expenses for the respective company.

⇒ What are your thoughts about moonlighting? Is it harmful or welcome? Why?
Sources:
Bruce, S. (2015, June 30) "The pros and cons of allowing moonlighting". HR Daily Advisor.
Lotich, P. (2020, June 29). "4 employer concerns about moonlighting". The Thriving Small Business
The Denver Post (2015, March 6). "Moonlighting: The pros and cons of taking a second job".

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