GD Topic: Moonlighting - Good or Bad

GD Topic: Moonlighting - Good or Bad

5 mins read12.3K Views Comment
Updated on Jan 25, 2023 12:28 IST

There are few topics that have divided opinion as the term moonlighting would have. Let’s  understand some positive and negative points for the concept of moonlighting as a GD topic for MBA admissionBy Aritro Dasgupta

GD topic: Moonlighting

Moonlighting - Good or Bad

Any Group Discussion (GD) works best when there may be debate on some topic that interests students.  There are few topics that have divided audiences over the past few months as the term moonlighting would have. Moonlighting is a term that refers to professionals seeking a second employment beyond their usual work hours. The assumption here of course, is that a professional works at a job during the day hours, but could add a second job, while the moon ‘shines’. Many people have had to resort to moonlighting due to various reasons, often compulsions. Financial reasons could force individuals to seek a second source of income.

A lot of Uber drivers and other ‘gig’ workers in the western world for instance, resort to these jobs to supplement their regular incomes. Family pressures or the opportunities derived from a low-pressure job could be other triggers. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, moonlighting took on a different meaning altogether. Due to the work-from-home norms, many employees faced relatively lesser levels of supervision. In any case work lasted round-the-clock. Mid-day absences were more difficult to gauge or further report. So, a lot of professionals took advantage of this situation to take up a second employment. Many earned good money during this period to supplement their regular incomes.

Once the COVID-19 restrictions started getting lifted and physical work spaces started being reopened, this trend came into the limelight. Several employees got ‘caught’ for their moonlighting. Others voluntarily ended their second associations. Companies thus understood the reasons and most of them reacted strongly. There were official announcements, curbing this freedom. Anyone caught moonlighting risked the wrath of being removed from the main workplace. Not all reacted the same way though. Infosys for example did start with the usual round of sackings, but later softened its stance. It took a balanced approach where it clarified that moonlighting was fine, as long as the second income did not come from a direct rival.

GD Topic: Moonlighting - Good or Bad

Any student appearing for a GD, must be ready with points from both sides of the argument. So let us understand some positive and negative points for the concept of moonlighting.

Moonlighting: Pros

Following are some points in favour of moonlighting:

  1. Additional income is always welcome, especially during tough individual situations.
  2. An economic crisis might be on the horizon, so if possible, individuals and groups need to maximize their earning potential.
  3. A company’s reputation in the job market will improve if it is less stringent about these rules.
  4. A lot of platform- based jobs work on the strength of workers who have other full- time jobs, but this has never affected the efficacy of these platforms such as Uber, Urban Company, Zomato etc.
  5. Instead of banning moonlighting outright, companies could resort to a nuanced position, where the second income should not derive from a direct rival.
  6. Companies could also take up a nuanced stance, by allowing certain individuals on permission, considering their income levels and family situations.
  7. It could also be allowed for certain profiles, where platforms naturally allow a lot of potential.

Moonlighting: Cons

Now, let us also highlight some points against this practice:

  1. Leads to tiredness at work, leading to lower productivity.
  2. Reduced productivity can also hamper employment, thus moonlighting becomes a zero- sum game.
  3. It is also unethical to be working with two employers, especially if they are rivals, and competing for the same pie.
  4. Overall employment situation is also affected, as the person doing a second job denies a position to another.
  5. Mental health can also take a toll, with the pressures of two jobs and the resultant sleep disorder.
  6. Physical health also suffers, due to the lack of exercise and excess focus on job and earning.
  7. Personal development, individual goals and family time, go completely for a toss.
  8. Legal complications also arise for the employers.

Students must consider long and hard before finalizing on any one approach. A stance must be taken which includes the viewpoints of various stakeholders. Deep research is needed before appearing in a GD for any college. A GD is often misunderstood to be a warzone, where competitors needs to put down their opponents. That is not the case. Instead, the participants must keep their calm, and reason out within the group, to arrive at a logical conclusion. The student’s clarity of thought, and superior general knowledge must be on full display. A balanced leadership style that brings others into the discussion, is preferred over a ‘bully’ who does not let the others participate.

About the Author

This account contains a repository of insightful articles by subject matter experts from all walks of life talking in-depth about various facets of course/college/career selection and corresponding challenges and le... Read Full Bio