Moonlighting is neither ethical nor fair

Moonlighting is the most talked about word in recent times. It is asensitive subject. Moonlighting has prevailed for years in labour-oriented jobs. An office assistant may be a newspaper vendor and an Uber driver during off-office hours. A receptionist or a teacher might be a Tupperware or Amway partner. Nobody has taken any offence against it. When it surfaced in the ITsector, it divided the industry into its supporters and opponents.

True, the employer has no business with the employee's off-dutyactivities, but that does not legitimatise moonlighting. IT industry leverages the technical skills of its human resources. It is known for the rapid obsolescence of skills an individual develops while working.

People acquire and apply new technological skills continuously in the IT sector. Skills acquisition happens during the company's paid time through training, collaboration, or self-study. If these skills or experiences are reused while moonlighting, it is unfair to the primary employer who facilitates the skills acquisition, learning process, and experience.

It also raises concerns over the non-compete and confidentiality clause. Similarly, suppose a salesperson who sells CRM software indulges in moonlighting by selling HRMS to the same set of customers. In that case, it is equally unfair to the primary CRM software company employer. Logically, HRMS company owes sharing of Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) with CRM company as the cost of the sales person is a significant part of CAC incurred by the CRM company.

So, moonlighting that reuses technology, experience, or relationship developed during duty hours is neither ethical nor fair.

- Vishal Prakash Shahis, Co-founder & CEO, Synersoft Technologies