Moonlighting – this is a word you can love or hate, but certainly cannot ignore.
In the context of the recent corporate-wide debate that began after Wipro fired 300 staff members for moonlighting, the opinions of the working population is divided. Whether you are a pro or anti-moonlighting, the truth is that this dual employment strategy has existed for centuries. Simply debating about the pros and cons of moonlighting will lend no help unless this issue is tended to at the grassroot level. Hence, it is essential to address this in a manner that empathizes with both the employee and the employer.
Table of Contents
Why Is Moonlighting Gaining Impetus?
Moonlighting is a side hustle or a secret job that a person takes up because of:
- their passion
- need for money or
- want of work satisfaction
Remote working has brought a shift in workforce preference and workplace dynamics. The ability to choose to work from anywhere and anytime has enabled people to explore new opportunities. Employees use their time effectively to be more productive at more than one job, saving time from traveling and physical meetings. In 2021, Forbes predicted that we are heading towards a gig economy, and the current work trends are justifying this transition.
Because of the flexibility it offers, Millennial and Gen-Z employees in the age group of 20-35 years are more open to the idea of moonlighting. Today, productivity is being measured based on the output and not on the number of hours spent working. Hence, moonlighting is becoming more popular as a means to climb the ladder of success faster.
What are Employees and Executives Failing to Provide?
Moonlighting is an unsaid reality of the corporate world. Employees and executives are both reluctant to accept its existence. But, in today’s work landscape, it has become crucial to address moonlighting in a more structured way.
Employees are failing to:
- Be transparent about their work associations
- Talk upfront about their monetary needs
- Express their areas of interest
- Speak against the unfavorable work culture
- Express their freedom of choice
- Maintain the company’s loyalty and privacy
Executives are failing to:
- Understand the shift in employee needs
- Provide sufficient compensation
- Recognize and retain talent
- Create a productive and encouraging work environment
- Share power and authority
- Establish brand values among the workforce
For companies and employees to be prepared for the future of work, it is vital that the above concerns are taken care of through effective workplace design and strategy.
How to Design Offices that Deal With Moonlighting?
The concept of moonlighting is here to stay. It is essential for companies to create workplaces and work cultures that acknowledge the existence of moonlighting and do not let it impact their progress.
Whether an employee is moonlighting or not, it is important for them to focus on the work at hand. The employees should have a sense of integrity, answerability, and respect towards their primary company. Likewise, the company should provide employees spaces to be more productive and responsible. Below are some office design ideas that can help deal with moonlighting.
Create Flexible Spaces
Moonlighting in the workspace is multi-tasking done in secrecy. Working on two assignments at the same time can often lead to half-hearted and inadequate results. Hence, when employees work from the office, it is important to encourage them to focus on their primary job. Creating spaces that urge employees to concentrate on one job at a time can help improve productivity.
Providing focus-driven spaces with less scope for secrecy can be achieved with an open floor plan. A free-flowing plan promotes flexibility and freedom of choice while also providing employees the ability to self-design their workspace. By providing a mixed furniture layout with shared workspaces, work pods, and cubicles, employees can choose their work desk for the day. Fostering a work environment of acceptance and freedom will encourage employees to be more responsible towards the company.
Opportunity for Growth
Following one’s passion is one of the key reasons for moonlighting. More often than not, people understand their likes and dislikes much later in life. Having another job allows people the opportunity to explore their passion and consider if it can provide them with a living. To maintain the employees’ interest in the company, it is essential that the workplace nurtures their passion. Creating workshop spaces and activity rooms where employees can pursue their passion as a recreational activity during quick work breaks can be helpful. Making provisions for meeting rooms and multi-purpose spaces in the offices can be useful for hosting skill-oriented seminars for employers.
Focus on Employee Experience
Office designs can enhance employee experience. The way people move around in a space affects their emotions and ultimately impacts their productivity. If an employee is unhappy because of how a workspace makes them feel, chances are high that this person will choose to moonlight. So, it is vital to create a work environment that engages with the employee and keeps them happy.
The office design should be comfortable, inviting, and vibrant. Offices can consider having well-upholstered furniture, co-working desks, and work desk organizers to make the workplace more comfortable. Making provisions for huddle spaces, conference pods, lounges, and lunch rooms can help the employees establish a sense of belongingness to the company.
Share the Power
Moonlighting is both tempting and stressful for employees. This workplace two-timing is challenging and is often justified as something done out of helplessness. To address this feeling of helplessness, it is important to make employees feel resourceful. An effective way to achieve that is to provide spaces that allow employees the time to think and breathe.
Make room for semi-formal areas such as huddle spaces, interaction hubs, and standing conference rooms where employees can take charge of the discussion. Make the workforce feel empowered with sufficient provisions for work breaks to avoid burnouts. Provide terraces, gaming rooms, meditation areas, gardens, and courtyards for employees to rejuvenate and work on their own time.
Manage Data Security
Moonlighting poses grave threats of breach of contract, contempt of trust, and data sharing. It is important that the company values and ethics are effectively instilled in the employees to keep your business safe. Imbibe company principles in the workforce through visual branding tools. Use the company colors and logo forms in the office interior design.
Create an accent wall with the brand color, place wall decals that show the logo evolution, and install neon quote lights that depict the company slogans. This will make the employees feel they have a moral obligation towards the company that must be fulfilled. Additionally, you can use technology and create multiple transition spaces guarded with password-enabled doors to maintain the sanctity of your company information.
Workplace Strategies and Organization
Moonlighting is a topic that needs to be discussed openly in corporate corridors. The hiring contract of companies should mention their stand on moonlighting. Draft clauses that speak about the processes and consequences of unethical moonlighting. Host weekly or monthly performance review meetings and build an open communication channel. The HR can speak to employees about their work-life balance and monetary concerns while reviewing the annual pay-raise cycle. Work towards talent retention and attraction by empathizing with employee needs through regular company-wide surveys. Host weekend get-togethers and team lunches to discuss workplace issues and act on them through effective policy implementation.
Wrapping It Up
The right way to address moonlighting is not all black or white. The employee and the employer should make an effort to be more empathetic towards each other. Eventually, the workplace should respect the privacy and freedom of everyone who comes together to make the business a success at large.
In these times, organizations need to engage employees better and empathize with their needs. Understand your employees better, and offer them a great workplace experience.
Get in touch with design experts at Zyeta, for more strategies for enhancing your employee experience.
