Simply put, moonlighting is meant to get employees to take on side gigs working on more than one job at a time.
Simply put, moonlighting is meant to get employees to take on side gigs working on more than one job at a time.
Infosys has sent out a message to its employees, stating that dual employment or ‘moonlight’ is not allowed, and warned that any breach of contract will trigger disciplinary action “which may even lead to termination of employment”. Is”.
“No Two Timing – No Moonlighting!” India’s second largest IT services company said in a strong and stern message to employees on 12 September.
Simply put, moonlighting refers to employees taking on side gigs to do more than one job at a time.
Infosys’ internal communication titled “No Double Life” makes it clear that “Dual employment is not allowed… as per employee handbook and code of conduct”.
It also cites the relevant clause in the offer letter to take the matter home.
“Any violation of these clauses will result in disciplinary action, which may also lead to termination of employment,” the mail said.
an email sent by PTI Infosys did not get any response for comments.
“Moonlight is a practice of working at another job during normal business hours/outside business hours. Infosys as a company strictly discourages dual employment,” according to Mailer.
The company has urged managers to sensitize their teams on the “consequences” of double employment and moonlighting.
Infosys said, “You are expected to immediately report any case of moonlight to your respective unit HR.”
The move comes at a time when the issue of moonlight by tech professionals has sparked a fresh debate, polarizing views and thorny legal questions within the industry.
Now with the headlines, some industry watchers are cautioning that employers may consider additional safeguards to protect proprietary information and operating models, especially where employees are working remotely.
Analysts say companies may also tighten the terms of exclusivity in employment contracts.
While the practice of moonlighting emerged as a big deal after Wipro chairman Rishad Premji flagged the issue, explaining it as a “hoax”, voices and opinion within the industry have been divided.
Pune-based union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has strongly condemned the “threatening emails” sent by Infosys to employees. It has argued that moonlight is “not possible” for a number of reasons.
“Aadhaar card and PAN card are now mandatory to join any company. The government has also linked Aadhar card with Employees Provident Fund account and every employee has a unique Universal Account Number (UAN) for provident fund,” said NITES chairman Harpreet Singh Saluja, adding that it is not possible for two companies. . To collect the provident fund contribution of the employee in a month.
Further, NITES said that the IT sector employees are working under pressure to meet the deadline.
“IT staff working more than nine hours a day without any overtime benefits. Will there be any energy or time left if an employee is working 10-12 hours a day.
In addition, many IT companies have developed monitoring systems to measure employee productivity, the union argued.
Moonlighting such employee mailers as “illegal and unethical” and arbitrary contract clauses, NITES emphasized that “what employees do outside working hours is their prerogative”.