The Concept Of Employee Moonlighting And How To Prevent It

Gone are the days when we used to sit back at the office for a 9 to 5 desk job. In today's fast-paced world, where almost many companies are switching to remote job opportunities, managing employees has become a hard task for employers. But, be it a remote job or an office job, there is another thing that is increasing at a rapid speed - Employee Moonlighting. 

As the best HR services in Bangalore and HR consultants in Hyderabad, we have found out by evaluating recent studies. Almost as many as 75% of employees are thinking about a second job. Or managing part-time jobs with their primary employment contract. 

Thus, employee moonlighting at work has become a worldwide practice. Where employees are working a second job to earn some extra money with their skills.

So, let's discuss dual moonlighting employees and practices to deal with it further in this blog.

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The Metrics Of Dual Employment: What Is Employee Moonlighting?

Employee moonlighting or side hustling refers to the side employment of an employee who manages two jobs at the same time. Employees who manage work hours with their primary employment company earn some extra money from another company. Usually, dual employment is practiced by employers without the notice of their current employer. 

As one of the top job consultancy in Hyderabad, we can say that moonlighting employees may earn a good sum of money monthly. By showcasing their developed skills as freelancers, part-time employees, or even Gig workers. 

However, often, moonlighting is a situation when employees take up another side job. Like tuition, content writing, app development, digital marketing, data analysis, and a lot more. 

Why Do Employees Prefer Moonlighting Or Second Job?

While, there can be a lot of reasons behind the concept of moonlighting. Here are the most common moonlighting reasons -

• Employees who feel unsatisfied with their primary job role.
• Employees who need extra sources of income to meet their needs.
• Employees who want to explore interesting job roles via part-time or freelance work.
• Employees who feel discredited at work often find peace in working elsewhere. 
• Employees who have lesser job security with their current employers.
• Employees who are passionate about learning extra skills even if that is not helping them financially.

Now, that you know all about what moonlighting refers to. Let's take you through a few employee moonlighting policy.

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Prohibiting Moonlighting: What Are The Ways To Deal With Employee Moonlighting?

While, moonlighting benefits employees, it can negatively affect the quality of work or productivity at your workplace. If you are the employer and if you find your employees engaging in moonlighting works.

So, here are a few tips that can help you manage employee work. While, providing you with a better understanding of whether one of your employees is moonlighting or not. 

1. Maintain Transparency And Clear Communication

The best approach if you find your employees moonlighting is to sit and talk with them. You can address your concerns and conflicts with them, asking them their reason for moonlighting your company. 

You can also re-evaluate if their moonlighting work is affecting your regular work at your organization or not and make decisions based on that. 

2. Introduce Moonlighting Contract Or Policies

While, there is no specific law on moonlighting in India yet. But you can ask your HR team to draft a moonlighting policy that every employee in your organization must stick by. 

Your moonlighting employee handbook must outline your expectations and limitations about the employee's second job. If you do not wish your employees to work anywhere else outside your company. Then, mentioning it on your moonlighting agreement is the best option.

Besides that, you can also ban employees who do not adhere to your set of moonlighting guidelines. Or, even the employees who engage with your direct competitors.

3. Watch And Take Required Action If Necessary

Keep an eye on or install a monitoring mechanism at your workplace to detect unauthorized moonlighting activities. This may also include reviewing the work schedules, financial sheets, and presence of your employees at your office. 

Thus, if you find any of your employees moonlighting you or against your moonlighting policies. Then, you must take the necessary steps to deal with others in the same way. 

At any cost, give no room for toxic productivity that can harm your company's values, policies, and efficiency.

4. Make Your Employees Aware Of The Moonlighting Module

Do you think making an employee moonlighting policy is enough to stop your employees from working elsewhere? 

Well, no! You must implement your policy to make sure that each of your employees is aware of the given moonlighting guidelines. It may include, what practices are allowed and not allowed within your organization, what actions the company can take against any employee practicing moonlighting, or what are the consequences of moonlighting. 

5. Offer Flexibility In Work Timings

The best situation in which moonlighting can be prevented is to offer flexibility to your employees. You can start by offering work flexibility to your employees, so that, they can pursue their interests and hobbies in their free time. 

Thus, reducing their temptation to seek another job. 

6. Provide Competitive Pay And Benefits

In most cases, employees choose dual employment if they are unhappy with their annual salary package or the nature of the work. That is why, make sure that your organization offers edge-cutting packages to employees to attract and retain them for the long term. 

After all, don't you think rewarding and recognizing your employee's hard work with increments and benefits reduces the risk of moonlighting? 

7. Ensure A Positive Work Ambience

Another reason that has significantly led to employee moonlighting trends, especially in India is the toxic work culture. Many employees have reported that employers who would interfere with employees who work in the company over petty things, or even invent their personal time often choose to moonlight such employers.

So, if you do not wish to become one such employer, create a positive work culture where your employees can work in peace. It is also important that you promote work-life balance, teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect as your organizational core values.

8. Track Moonlighting Workers With Employee Productivity Tool

If you are still wondering if your employees are considering moonlighting or not, the best you can do is track them with an employee tracking tool or software. 

Such tools have automated features that can track employees' work hours, idle hours, online timings, offline timings, URL tracking, absence calendar, and a lot more. Therefore, helping you to solve and find moonlighting without a problem.

Read More: Top Importance Of Employee Rewards And Recognition Programs

Conclusion

Employee moonlighting situations can pose serious risks to employers, including legal litigations, tension at the workplace, conflicts between employers and employees, and unproductive work.

Thus, identify any signs of moonlighting with these best practices to keep your employee performance at the top of your organization.