Infosys, one of India’s leading IT companies, recently issued a warning in an email to all its employees.
‘Remember.. no one should seek moonlight again!’ (Remember.. No More Moonlighting!)
What is moonlighting?
“Moonlighting” is the practice of working in one company and working in another company without the knowledge of that company after the working hours are over.
Although already widely known as ‘extra part-time work’, it is said that working in another place without the knowledge of the company has increased in recent times. That is why it is widely referred to as ‘moonlighting’ as it refers to receiving moonlight after sunlight.
IT companies are the most affected by this moonlighting. Due to the Corona crisis, the companies encouraged their employees to stay at home and work. For that, they also provided benefits including internet connection facility.
In fact, it is said that it is cheaper for tech companies to hire employees from their homes rather than having them come to the office.
With the Corona crisis almost over, even now many leading companies have asked their employees to work from home.
In this situation, it is said that the employees who have already faced economic crisis due to the corona situation are engaging in ‘moonlighting’ to increase their income.
However, companies say that their biggest threat is their employees working elsewhere.
Companies that say that the work efficiency and service production of employees will be greatly reduced due to moonlighting, they say that moonlighting will lead to leakage of their confidential information to other companies.
It is for these reasons that Infosys has issued a strong warning against their employees engaging in moonlighting.
In an email sent to the employees, Infosys has warned that those involved in such activities will be immediately removed from their jobs.
India’s other leading IT company, Wipro, is also strongly opposed to moonlighting.
Rishath Premji, the company’s chairman, recently tweeted, ‘Moonlighting is being discussed in the IT industry. There is no confusion that it is a fraudulent act,’ he said.
Experts also say that moonlighting is a crime under the law in India. Legal experts say that under Indian labor laws, a person who is a full-time employee of one company cannot work overtime in another company.
However, due to the convenience of working at home, more leisure time, and the need for additional income, the information technology sector may continue to engage in moonlighting if there is an opportunity, according to industry sources.