Moonlighting in Indian Tech Reflects Risk Management, Not Ambition
Moonlighting among Indian tech professionals appears to be driven less by ambition and more by risk management in an increasingly unstable labor market, according to a poll by Blind, an anonymous workplace platform.
36% said they engage in moonlighting primarily for financial reasons, with job security and networking cited as additional motivations.
But 30% said they do not moonlight due to ethical concerns and 19% said their primary income is sufficient. Others pointed to a lack of available side work, low energy after work hours, or a desire to protect work–life balance.
Moonlighting reportedly increased during the pandemic, when remote work and flexible schedules became widespread. However, the practice has become harder to sustain as companies tighten oversight and enforce return-to-office policies. A Google professional said, “I used to, but after joining FAANG and with RTO becoming a thing, I couldn’t sustain it.”
Despite these constraints, some professionals expect moonlighting to rise again due to ongoing economic pressure. A professional at Coinbase said, “Due to layoff risk and inflation, I expect a significant increase in the number of people moonlighting.”
In some cases, moonlighting has led to termination after being exposed internally.
Another Google professional described a situation in which a whistleblower alerted both companies involved. Commenters cited several reasons companies crack down on moonlighting, including reducing security risks related to confidential information, deterring other employees from pursuing side work that could reduce focus and productivity, and limiting potential legal liability by demonstrating proactive monitoring and safeguards, particularly around customer data.
While moonlighting often represents a source of extra income, the inability to moonlight points to an already stretched workforce with limited time, energy, or opportunity to take on additional work.