How Moonlighting Affects Your Business & What You Can Do

September 17, 2023 - Reading time: 5 minutes
Updated on: April 6, 2025

In today’s economy, it’s increasingly common for employees to take on second jobs — whether it’s weekend shifts, freelance gigs, or online side hustles. While moonlighting can help workers manage the cost of living, it can also create serious risks for employers.

If an employee’s second job is affecting their performance, creating conflicts of interest, or breaching your company policies, it’s important to address it. In this guide, we explain what moonlighting is, how to spot the warning signs, and what steps you can take — including when it might be time to bring in a private investigator.

What Is Moonlighting?

Moonlighting refers to the practice of holding a second job outside one’s main employment. While it’s not illegal, it can become problematic when:

• It affects an employee’s performance in their primary job
• It breaches company policies or contracts
• There’s a conflict of interest — such as working for a competitor

Some employees manage their extra work without issue. But if they’re moonlighting in secret or letting it interfere with your business, it may require intervention.

Common Signs an Employee Is Moonlighting

Moonlighting isn’t always easy to detect. Still, there are a few red flags worth watching for:

• Frequent lateness or leaving work early
• Unusual fatigue, lack of focus, or falling productivity
• Excessive sick leave or short-notice time-off requests
• Long unexplained absences during work hours
• Other staff expressing concerns about uneven workloads

These behaviours don’t always indicate moonlighting — personal issues or burnout may also be factors — but persistent patterns are worth investigating.

What’s the Impact on Your Business?

Moonlighting can quietly damage your company in several ways:

• Lower performance: Fatigued or distracted employees are unlikely to meet expectations.
• Reduced morale: Colleagues may become frustrated if they feel they're carrying someone else’s workload.
• Conflicts of interest: An employee might moonlight for a competitor or take on side work for your clients, undercutting your rates.
• Data risks: There’s potential for confidential information to be misused — even unintentionally.

In the long term, these issues can affect customer satisfaction, increase staff turnover, and harm your business reputation.

Why You Might Need a Private Investigator

If you suspect moonlighting but lack proof, it’s risky to confront the employee without evidence. You could face accusations of unfair treatment or even end up in an employment tribunal for wrongful dismissal.

Hiring a private investigator ensures you get the facts discreetly and professionally — without risking your working relationship or your legal position. At Private Investigators UK, we help companies across the UK uncover the truth behind suspected moonlighting through:

• Covert surveillance
• Social media and online activity analysis
• Employment and income verification
• Background checks and interviews

Our experienced team can help you confirm whether a staff member is working a second job, who for, and when. If no wrongdoing is found, the investigation stays confidential, and the employee relationship is unaffected.

Take Action Without Taking Risks

Moonlighting isn’t always a problem — but when it affects your bottom line or breaches trust, it’s worth addressing. Don’t let suspicion linger or jump to conclusions without evidence.

To speak confidentially with our team and get a free, no-obligation quote, visit our contact page. We’ll help you assess the situation and explore your options — with discretion, professionalism, and experience you can trust.