Moonlighting – Black, White Or Blue?

Introduction

"Moonlighting" is a term used to refer to the practice of taking up another job, while working full-time for a different organisation, typically to supplement the salary received from the full-time employment. It has become a much talked about term in the Indian context in recent times, following several technology companies, big and small, taking contrasting approaches to dealing with employees who were found to have been "moonlighting". While some companies have taken an accommodative approach by permitting "moonlighting" under specific circumstances, some others have clamped down on employees found "moonlighting" by terminating their employment altogether.

Instances of moonlighting seem to have increased following the Covid-19 pandemic for two reasons: firstly, several employees in the organized workforce faced salary cuts, minimal or no bonuses, reduced work hours/days and loss of other incentives, following various cost cutting initiatives