Following the controversy that erupted after India-based developer Soham Parekh was accused of working for multiple companies simultaneously, employees and recruiters are divided over the appropriateness of moonlighting.
A dipstick survey conducted by this correspondent among employees across various sectors, 70 per cent of the respondents defended that moonlighting, as long as it does not affect their primary job. Moonlighting means an employee working for more than one company without the knowledge of the primary employer.
“When companies do not compensate employees on par with the market, there is always a chance that employees will seek alternative income sources,” said Reuben Benhur, vice-president of HR at a leading IT firm, said.
However, he said if the employee was pursuing a similar kind of job elsewhere, it would create a conflict of interest. “Companies invest heavily in training employees using various methodologies at the company’s expense, which is why such practices are discouraged.”
An IT professional currently working for two different companies said, “These companies don’t pay us enough to match modern living standards. We have the capability and energy to earn more. As long as we deliver the tasks assigned, why should they be bothered?”
Explaining the views of employer and employee, Srinivas Kollipara, managing partner at Biome Venture Studios, said companies expect employees to give undivided attention. “On the other hand, employees often believe that if they’re paid for a specific job and perform it well, they should be free to take on additional work elsewhere.”
“Today’s companies are not prepared for that. The traditional work culture insists that employees work only for one organisation. However, with advancements in tools like AI, employees are completing tasks faster, giving them more free time, which they often use to work elsewhere. This has led to a mismatch between employer expectations and employee priorities,” he explained.
“In task-based roles, as long as I complete my work without affecting company performance, moonlighting might not be an issue. However, in startups, apart from a salary, employees are often given equity and are expected to commit their full intellectual effort. In such roles, employees must understand the nature and expectations of their profession.”
Senior career consultant Kavitha Shravan, however, defended the concept by stating it was not a new phenomenon. “Even in the past, schoolteachers used to take tuitions after school or visit students’ homes. People from accounting backgrounds used to work part-time with private firms. The IT boom and the rise of remote work have only expanded these possibilities. Employees working from home or on laptops can now work for multiple firms.”
Benhur said moonlight has made the human resource professional’s work difficult, as it is a challenge to discover moonlighting. “It is often discovered through background checks, particularly those that verify Universal Account Numbers (UAN) or Provident Fund (PF) contributions. Companies use data analysis and monitoring tools to identify potential conflicts of interest, such as reviewing online activity and financial records.”