Is Moonlighting Ethical?

There are a few schools of thought on this subject. Some people believe that moonlighting is ethical because it allows people to earn extra money to support themselves or their families. Others believe that moonlighting is unethical because it takes away from the time that people could be spending with their families or on leisure activities.

We can look into this with perspectives – First, moonlighting is ethical under certain circumstances. If someone is able to balance their work and personal life effectively, then it is perfectly fine for them to work a second job. Second, if someone is working so much that they are neglecting their personal life or working without informing their prime job, then that is when it may become unethical.

What is Moonlighting? Is Moonlighting Legal or Illegal?

Moonlighting is one of the hot topics in the gig economy. It has seen a significant rise, especially amidst this WFH model or remote working culture after the global pandemic. There is a lot of debate around the legitimacy of moonlighting in employment sectors. While some people show support for moonlight, some really oppose it. And thus there arise multiple concerns:

  • is moonlighting ethical?,
  • can you be fired for moonlighting?,
  • pros and cons of moonlighting,
  • can employers prohibit moonlighting?,
  • and many more!

 

This blog will look at what Moonlighting is, why it is a hot topic today, what are the pros and cons of Moonlighting and whether is it legal in India. Let’s get started! 

Similar Reads

What is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting is the practice of holding a second job or taking on additional work outside of one’s primary job. The term is often used to refer to workers who hold two jobs, but it can also apply to those who work extra hours outside of their regular job or take on freelance work. There are several types of moonlighting – Blue Moonlighting, Quarter Moonlighting, Half Moonlighting, and Full Moonlighting....

Is Moonlighting Ethical?

There are a few schools of thought on this subject. Some people believe that moonlighting is ethical because it allows people to earn extra money to support themselves or their families. Others believe that moonlighting is unethical because it takes away from the time that people could be spending with their families or on leisure activities....

Is Moonlighting Legal?

Although there’s not a pin-point law that completely bans the moonlighting practice, the answer to legal or illegal depends on multiple factors including employment agreements with the respective companies, work policies & laws, etc. For instance, Moonlighting could be considered cheating if an employee is already contracted to another company and working for them full-time. However, if the employee is only working a few hours a week for another company, it might not be seen as cheating. It all depends on the contract that the employee has signed....

Employers’ Response To Moonlighting Scenario:

Recently, Rishad Premji, Chairman of Wipro tweeted about the moonlight practice – “There is a lot of chatter about people moonlighting in the tech industry. This is cheating – plain and simple.” Not only this, a few days later, Wipro fired around 300 employees for ‘moonlighting’....

Pros of Moonlighting:

There are a number of pros to moonlighting, including:...

Cons of Moonlighting:

There are a few potential downsides to moonlighting, which include:...