Why you need a policy against moonlighting. (column)

Why you need a policy against moonlighting

Moonlighting is an activity in which an employee of a company performs the same type of work for which he has been hired during "after-hours" periods or on weekends and without the sanction or authority of the company which has hired him. In many cases, moonlighters use information, tools, materials, and supplies which have been provided by their principal employer in performing their independent, unsanctioned after-hours activities.

A service mechanic who performs service work without the authority of his employer is engaging in moonlighting.

A mechanic who offers to "come back later" to install or replace a unit under the premise that he "can do it cheaper that way" is engaging in moonlighting.

A mechanic who installs or services equipment as a "favor" to an immediate family member is not generally considered to be moonlighting, but the mechanic should advise his employer that he is performing such work on his own time for that family member.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends that its member companies develop, adopt, and enforce a specific company policy which prohibits moonlighting activities by company employees. Such a policy is based on the fact that moonlighting activities are a disservice to the consumer and a source of potential liability to the company which employs the mechanic on a regular basis.

ACCA believes that moonlighting is potentially a dangerous enough practice that employees who engage in moonlighting should be subject to immediate and unconditional dismissal.