Defining the Factor Structure of Moonlighting: Implications for the Future Workplace

The practice of moonlighting, where employees hold multiple jobs, has gained traction in recent years across various industries. The practice has recently been highlighted by a prominent IT firm, indicating the necessity of studying this prominent phenomenon in this sector. The practice of long working hours (even remotely) with minimal pay is the reality of many freshers entering this buoyant sector. The “silent” prevalence of this practice is creating a psychological rift amongst employees and necessitates studying the underlying dimensions defining moonlighting. Therefore, to address this gap, this research explores the dimensions defining moonlighting among IT/ITES young professionals. The study was conducted on a sample of 309 working IT/ITES professionals at entry level in MNCs located in Delhi NCR region. Exploratory Factor Analysis using SPSS 29.0 was applied. Four factors viz. perceived role conflict, willful multitasking, growth outlook and risk-reward orientation are explaining 64.6% of variance. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of organizational policies, employee commitment, and the broader labor market dynamics. Additionally, the study underscores the growing trend of moonlighting within organizations, with many employees perceiving it as a necessity for financial and professional security. This research provides a foundation for understanding how moonlighting can be defined so as to read the workforce dynamics carefully. These findings have implications for organizational policies, career development programs, and broader workforce trends in an evolving employment landscape.