‘Complete Violation of Integrity in Deepest Form’: Wipro Terminates 300 Employees For Moonlighting

Days after criticizing the practice of Moonlighting, Rishad Premji’s Wipro has fired over 300 employees for indulging in the practice.

The Wipro chairman had strictly criticized Moonlighting in his tweet terming the practice “Plain and simple cheating”. After the action, the Indian IT major has become the first to take such a strong stand against employees for Moonlighting.

Talking about the layoffs due to Moonlighting at a conference organized by the All India Management Association (AIMA), the Wipro boss emphasized the transparent communication by employees regarding their second or weekend work’ with the organization they are working for. 

He further mentioned that his company found out that over 300 employees have been working with Wipro’s direct competitors and he termed it “an act of integrity violation in its deepest form.”

What is Moonlighting?

The term 'Moonlighting' refers to the practice of secretly having a second job in addition to the existing one. Simply, it means working two jobs at the same time under which one job is usually done after normal working hours.

The huge critic of moonlighting, Premji clearly said that his company does not have space for such employees (those who are moonlighting). He claimed that after criticizing the practice of moonlighting and calling it ‘Cheating’ he received a huge amount of ‘hate’ emails. However, he made it clear that he stand by his words.

In his tweet, expressing concern, and angst about the increasing practice of Moonlighting in the IT industry, the Chairman of Wipro on 20 August termed the practice, ‘cheating – plain and simple.’ In the tweet, he said, “There is a lot of chatter about people moonlighting in the tech industry. This is cheating – plain and simple.”

Elaborating on the definition of moonlighting, Premji mentioned, “If you actually look at the definition of moonlighting, it is having a second job secretively I’m all about transparency. As a part of transparency, individuals in organizations can have very candid conversations.” He also said that employees and organizations ‘concerted choices’ can make regarding second jobs. While, on the other hand, justifying the action of terminating 300 employees, he added that the employees working in the rival firms is a ‘complete violation of integrity in its deepest form’.

IT Companies are apparently on a spree to take a strong stand against moonlighting and have been warning them against the practice with possible consequences such as termination of their employment. 

Earlier, another Indian IT major Infosys sent out emails to its employees in which it warned them about the possible consequences of moonlighting. It also indicated that the practice by the employee can even lead to the termination of the company employees. Infosys via email has made it clear to its employees that the practice can lead to disciplinary action which it termed as ‘Violation of clauses’ while restricting the practice for its employees. 

The email by the IT major was titled, “No two-timing, no double lives”. Furthermore, it said that according to the ‘Employee Handbook’ and ‘Code of Conduct’ the practice of dual employment is not allowed.

On the contrary, food delivery major Swiggy last month had begun the deliberations around moonlighting under which it allowed the practice under its ‘industry first’ policy. The company allows its staff to take up external projects with internal approvals.