What is Employee Moonlighting? How to check for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting?

What is Employee Moonlighting? How to check for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting?

December 7, 2022
12:07 pm
background verification, Employee moonlighting, employee verification, employment check, verification

Recently, many top IT companies found that half the employee workforce is moonlighting (working for other companies simultaneously). Many got fired, prompting a stern reaction from companies. Dual employment, commonly referred to as “moonlighting,” involves working two or more jobs concurrently. Employees have been found doing a lot of work for two different companies at the same time. It puts the company’s data at risk and costs the company money. This increase in employee moonlighting is attributed to most workers remaining in a hybrid paradigm after the COVID pandemic and working from home most of the time.

Under the guise of working from home, moonlighting workers lead parallel lives. Employers will inevitably need to be re-verified utilizing cutting-edge authentication technologies.

Understanding the Concept of Moonlighting

In America, working a second job and a normal 9-to-5 job gave rise to the phrase “moonlighting.” Some people began engaging in their passions in their spare time, while others began looking for part-time jobs. People often had two jobs at once and took advantage of working from home, especially in the IT sector. Employees of IT companies who moonlight are not subject to any laws. Plant employees are not allowed to hold dual employment under Indian labor rules. Numerous employers include in their offer letters that an employee may not hold down two jobs at once or should refrain from doing so while employed.

Employees should avoid moonlighting in such circumstances resulting in losing their jobs.

Laws of Moonlighting in India

It is acceptable to work numerous jobs in India without breaking the law. Although many businesses impose such restrictions in their employment agreements in addition to regulations against holding down other jobs, a person with a similar set of jobs may raise concerns about a breach of confidentiality. Moonlighting might be seen as cheating if an employee’s contract calls for non-compete and is quite common with most conventional employment contracts. Below is the brief about the laws of moonlighting in India-

According to Section 60 of the Factories Act of 1948, a worker cannot work simultaneously at two places of business. However, the definition of a worker in the Factories Act does not include an IT specialist or any employee performing administrative or managerial duties.

The Industrial Job (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946, state that a worker is not permitted to work against the industrial establishment’s interests or accept any side jobs that would endanger the employer’s interests.

Present Moonlighting Policies in India-

While many top companies are opposed to employee moonlighting, some support it. Let’s examine businesses that support moonlighting:

Swiggy now permits moonlighting under some restrictions.
Nova Benefits encourages moonlighting and allows employees to explore new opportunities and follow their passions or interests beyond work hours.
C P Gurnani, the CEO of Tech Mahindra, said he could think about permitting moonlighting. He agreed that employees should be able to accept overtime pay, but they should be upfront about it.

How to check Employee Moonlighting?

It can be difficult to track down dual work if you don’t know where to look. Employers can find out if their staff members are doing a second job or moonlighting in a few different methods. The most typical method is to check with the employee’s previous employers or have a background screening done on the suspect’s job history. Many firms forbid employees from holding down a second job.

Therefore, it is the most reliable method to determine if an employee is engaged in dual employment. Peeking at the employee’s pay stubs is another technique to verify. The pay stub for an employee should indicate which employers are paying them. Here are some suggestions on how to look out for-

Using AI-Powered Dual Employment Tool

There are AI-powered tools that companies can use to search for dual employment. It can help with end-to-end tech platforms ensuring an easy workforce and reduced data loss. Moreover, it will further help in reducing manual efforts and costs.

Through EPFO UAN

Using UAN for dual employment verification is a quick and easy way to find out about a current employee’s work history. This dual employment check method yields reliable results in the shortest time.

The tech-enabled procedure is precise and data-driven. Employees are eligible for Provident Fund and Employer’s Provident Fund benefits in any industry. Ex-employer information is collected using the UAN number, and verifications are opened and closed by the data. When you provide UAN numbers, the team checks to ensure the client has no other employment during their current tenure. If there is any dual employment, the case is flagged.

Screening the Financial Records

As an employer, you can check the financial records of the employees. Employees may receive revenue from another employment if paid more than they should be given their position or hours worked. It would help if you enlisted the aid of a company that performs employment background checks for this step. Research further if you have reason to believe your business simultaneously employs an employee at another job.

Check their Social Media Accounts

Many employees, especially those having LinkedIn accounts, usually post updates about their employment. You can check their updates to know if they are engaged in dual employment.

Doing Background Checks

When hiring any candidate for your company, it is essential to do a background check. It will help you know if the candidate has a history of doing any dual employment. Hire an agency that does employment background checks using different tools.

Benefits of Checking Dual Employment Moonlight by Employee

Examining employee moonlighting and dual employment has several advantages for the organization. You can prevent potential complications and problems by doing this. Employees might be unable to give their full attention to either job if they are doing two jobs, one of which is in a completely unrelated field. It can result in productivity and caliber.

Consider a situation where a worker has two occupations, one of which pays significantly more than the other. In that situation, a problem might develop. The worker might feel more loyalty to the position that pays more and less loyalty to the other. Problems with job satisfaction and turnover might result from this.

Additionally, you can prevent any legal problems by checking for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting with employment background checks. For illustration, imagine a worker with two jobs, one of which is in a distant state.

Other issues like tax problems, immigration, and data issues can arise. By proper check of dual employment can bring down these issues. Again, you can prevent these potential issues by checking Employee Moonlighting and Dual Employment.

Conclusion

The issue of employees moonlighting is delicate and complex for businesses to handle. The lack of clear legislation in this area makes it even more flexible to one’s interpretation. From the general population’s perspective, this is appropriate and fair. However, businesses or organizations don’t operate on the ideologies of good and wrong. There are laws, rules, and contracts to govern it. Which, if absent, can result in a chaotic, poorly managed setting.

By reducing these risks to a minimum, you can guarantee the smooth operation of your company. Working with background checks and pre-employment services will help you run your business smoothly by being aware of the law and taking precautions to look out for these behaviors. Use the right service to do the job perfectly and help you with background checks and dual employment threats.

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How Remote Work is adding a Whole New Perspective to Background Checks?

How Remote Work is adding a Whole New Perspective to Background Checks?

November 29, 2022
11:52 am
Background checks, background verification, Employee moonlighting, Employee onboarding, verification

Right after the pandemic, the entire employee onboarding process changed 360 degrees. Hiring remote employees has significantly shifted from screening to a background check. According to an EY Forensic and Integrity Services report, digital changes are becoming a significant part of employee background checks. In a study of more than 115 top HR executives from companies in India and worldwide, 68% said it was hard to do background checks when the workplace was on lockdown. In contrast, just 32% used technological tools as an alternative to conducting checks.

Suppose an employee makes a mistake because you didn’t do enough screening; you, as the employer, will be held responsible. You may limit access to information needed for background checks in some places. As a hiring team member, you need to ensure that every possible employee goes through a background check. This check will help you determine whether someone has lied about their work or school experience and whether they have a criminal record. This procedure is just as crucial for remote workers as for those who work in person.

Background checks are necessary for remote workers, but they also present challenges. Here is how –

Competency

With the hiring process shifting online, candidates now find it simpler to cheat on online tests. Fake diplomas and experience certificates are increasingly more frequently used, but this is nothing new.

In an EY Forensic & Integrity Services survey, 96% of respondents said that up to 10% of background checks on current or potential employees failed. You can stop this trend by using technology to digitize records and test candidates ahead of time. So, it’s essential to use the modern way to check someone’s background. Using the right tools makes sure there are no fake documents.

Encouraging Stealing of Company Data

With remote hiring and working, data security is also in danger. Part of the job is giving employees access to company data from home using their networking equipment. When an employee accesses data remotely rather than simply in the office, there are many additional ways for the organization’s security and systems to get compromised. Businesses also need to think about a worker’s home, where unauthorized people could try to log in or even steal important company information. If the employee’s background is properly checked, it’s easier to ensure your company’s data is safe.

Moonlighting

In recent times, there have been many cases of employees moonlighting. Many top companies have fired employees for continuing to moonlight. The present controversy around moonlighting is not without merit. In remote workplaces, there have been times when workers missed online meetings because of technical problems or personal issues. It made the bosses wonder if they had another job. Through a PF transaction, careful background checks on potential recruits showed they were working two jobs simultaneously.

Also, if many people apply for remote jobs simultaneously, it raises questions about their skills and commitment. In the new normal, background checks must also deal with the situation when a candidate’s resume is quiet about these brief assignments.

Things you should know about background checks for remote workers

Running background checks on remote employees presents quite a challenge! Typically, you would sit across from a new employee’s desk and ask them to sign a waiver allowing you to run their background check. But if that person works from home, problems arise quickly, like “How do I know if the candidate is signing the waiver?” How can I verify that the candidate I’m recruiting is the real thing? Some of the concerns are –

Risks in Hiring Remote Workers

As mentioned above, there are certain risks involved with remote workers when there are no background checks. The worker may misuse the company data while sitting in a remote area. Employees that work remotely have much greater access to your system than those who can only access it when in the office. It would help if you also considered visitors who might be there because they might try to log in or even listen in on private corporate or client information.

Is there any need to redo the Background Check when the employee has been absent for a long

Employees who are gone for more than a month must undergo the same process as new hires. Often, background checks can catch employees doing something wrong and lower risk even in normal situations. Furthermore, if you had the necessary approval when you first employed the individual, that waiver might still be valid if you do another criminal background check. To be safe, review any potential time restrictions in the waiver once more.

Points to consider when doing background checks of remote employees -

Consider State Laws regarding Background Checks

Background checks are essential for hiring remote workers because they help the hiring team ensure they are working with the right people. But you need to know about certain laws, so you don’t get in trouble with the law in the future.

Considering the cost of Bad Hiring

Poor recruitment will always affect an employer’s reputation, whether they are working in the office or remotely. If a remote worker’s background is checked, it could save the business money in onboarding and training costs, turnover costs, and the costs that could come from hiring without being careful. Ensuring all workers have been thoroughly vetted, no matter where they are located, helps protect the investment a business makes when adding a new team member.

Remember, it's your responsibility completely

As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure they are hiring someone who does not pose a threat to the corporation and keeps those team members engaged, regardless of whether they are local employees or remote workers. An employee may file a negligent hiring lawsuit if another employee causes them harm, and they can demonstrate that their employer did not adequately screen that individual. It also applies to employees who work remotely. If everyone isn’t given a thorough background check, the employee who filed the complaint may be able to get money from the court.

Expanding Job Qualifications

When hiring remote workers and doing a background check, you should look for more than just the typical job requirements. To locate the best candidate for the post, fine-tune the position’s ideal qualifications. For example, if you’re hiring someone for an online teaching job, do they have the skills or qualifications to make training materials just for an online audience? The job posting should consider the vast differences between an online and classroom environment.

Also, think beyond the box to learn more about the candidates. Do they, for instance, engage in activities or obligations outside of the workplace that reflects a self-starter personality type? Working remotely necessitates a higher degree of initiative and self-discipline.

How can MIMOIQ help with the background checks of remote workers?

Hiring a remote worker is quite challenging, especially when doing a background check. This is when you need a professional company that can undertake the job. MIMOIQ does the check professionally.

MIMOIQ, using modern tools and an experienced team, can look up anything, including verification checks, background checks, and others. Following every report from a background check, you get real-time updates.

The team integrates different tools with your business during the background check process to ensure you get the correct result. Our model for background checks gives better, faster results and keeps a direct line of communication open.

Summing it up

Every organization has been caught off guard by remote work. Because of changes in technology and workflow, the traditional office environment and business have changed a lot. Proper background checks on prospective employees can help the company run smoothly.