To be or not to be: balancing moonlighting and loyalties in a Delilah-like predicament

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows:1. Evaluate moonlighting as an employee relations and HR governance challenge in contemporary organizations.2. Apply ethical frameworks (deontological and consequentialist) to analyze managerial responses to moonlighting.3. Assess legal and contractual risks associated with employee moonlighting and disciplinary action.4. Interpret organizational data to evaluate the impact of moonlighting on performance, trust and organizational culture.5. Develop and justify an HR policy recommendation for managing moonlighting while balancing employee and organizational interests. Case overview/synopsis The case presents a complex dilemma revolving around moonlighting in the context of a growing corporate phenomenon, where employees seek secondary jobs without informing their primary employer. TechPoint Solutions, like many companies, faces a challenge as this trend raises ethical, legal and operational concerns. The HR department, led by Thomas, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Priya, the HR Associate Director, struggles to address the issue. The case involves Ravi, an employee who took up a second job during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now caught between maintaining his livelihood and adhering to company policies. The case explores the broader implications of moonlighting policies in the IT sector, examining various viewpoints on work-life balance, employment rights and organizational interests. It highlights a dilemma for HR managers like Thomas and Priya, who must navigate between enforcing company policies and understanding the evolving work environment and employee needs. The case foregrounds HR governance and Industrial Relations tensions, where employee behaviour reflects gaps in policy design, enforcement mechanisms and legal ambiguity rather than mere ethical lapses. Complexity academic level This case is designed for MBA/PGDM Human Resource Management courses and is best positioned after students have been introduced to Employee Relations, Employment Contracts, Employee Discipline and HR Ethics. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management.