A new buzzword
Rishad Premji’s tweet has brought into focus a new word in the corporate lingo – Moonlighting. The act of working two or more jobs. Remember, in Season 4 of The Office (Episode – Money ), Michael Scott, the Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin moonlights as a weight loss pill tele-salesman. That’s moonlighting. Why does he end up cold calling people while having a full time job? Short answer – he needs the money.
In Defence of and Against Moonlighting
There are three key arguments for and against moonlighting. First, moonlighting helps to secure additional income. Second, it allows one to pursue interests outside of work. Third, it kills the monotony of routine. On the other hand, moonlighting could amount to disloyalty to the company. Second, serious cases of fraud, theft of information and IP could happen. Third, it could seriously affect the health of the individual.
Ethical Dilemmas
But is it ethically wrong to take up another job? In college, many of us hustled this way – doing odd jobs to support our education. With a restrictive policy this may not have been possible. Though with serious employment comes the need for balance and a greater sense of responsibility. Towards oneself and the organisation. This creates a moral dilemma, which becomes stronger with desperate need for more income.
If employees feel the need to take up another job – it is generally for more money or for more challenging work. In which case, maybe the CXOs should reflect upon the compensation structure and the work allocation available to their employees. When Swiggy dropped their dual employment policy – they charted a new pathway for the future of work. Gig economy workers are already practicing moonlighting in their own way. And as talent becomes more mobile, this could very well alter the nature of employer-employee relationship.
Moonlighting for Passion
Meanwhile, there exists a different kind of moonlighting – the kind that makes sense to the free spirited souls. The one where you don a cape and go around saving the world at night. No I am just joking. The kind which gave us Einstein and F. Scott Fitzgerald. This AoM article (very inspiring) mentions how as an Patent office clerk at day, Albert Einstein would come home and work on his experiments. Whereas Fitzgerald was hard at work at his literary endeavours as a military man. This implies the need to maintain a steady job while using the benefits to try out riskier/non rewarding ventures driven by one’s own passion.
What’s the final word?
Is it cheating – yes it is but only when your employment contract does not permit it and you indulge in it without seeking express consent. This applies mainly to remunerative second jobs not passion projects like volunteering at an NGO unless the affect your primary job adversely. Them are the rules (check with HR once). In case if the policy of your employer seems restrictive, it is better to take up a different job where this policy is relaxed.
Is it cheating when done with full consent of management? In that case not really, but you know what they say – having your feet in two boats can be tricky. This requires immense discipline and it often comes at a great personal cost. But then whatever floats your boat(s).