Moonlighting

Need for Moonlighters

J. J. Liptak has suggested that the hiring of part-time employees will continue to grow. Most states define part-time work as anything less than 35 hours per week, compared to full-time work that is 40 hours or more per week. Providing benefits to full-time employees is an increasingly unattractive option for many large and small businesses. Therefore, many businesses hire part-time employees and, due to stubbornly high unemployment rates, there are plenty of workers willing to accept part-time jobs.

Employers often hire part-time or temporary workers to (1) help with increased work demands or seasonal industry fluctuations that sometimes occur in certain industries; (2) save money by not having to pay for health insurance, retirement benefits, sick leave, paid vacations, paid holidays, [Page 602]and life insurance; and (3) pay employees on an hourly basis even though they must comply with company rules, policies, and obligations, such as performance goals, safety rules, and company business practices.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a change in the economy from a stable work environment to a nonstandard one will increasingly call for the hiring of more part-time employees, independent contractors, consultants, and temporary help. Given this information, it is easy to see why moonlighting continues to be a viable option for current employees.

Current Trends in Moonlighting

The number of people working multiple jobs continues to increase, and moonlighters can be found in every demographic group regardless of age, race, gender, marital status, education level, and geographic location. Randall Hansen, citing U.S. Department of Labor statistics for 2011, suggested that nearly 8 million workers, or 5.1 percent of all employed people, held more than one job, up from 3.9 million in 1975. Although the characteristics of moonlighters vary, there are patterns. Men (53.9 percent) tend to moonlight more than women (46.1 percent), and the largest age group of moonlighters is people aged 35 to 44 (29.8 percent), followed by people aged 25 to 34 (23.5 percent). The lowest group of moonlighters is aged 55+ (9.5 percent). Of the various ethnic groups, white people tend to moonlight the most (86.5 percent). Married people (55.4 percent) are more likely than single people (27.2 percent) to moonlight.

Benefits of Moonlighting

There are many benefits that can be obtained from moonlighting. The people who moonlight do so for a variety of reasons, including the following:

• They need extra money to meet the ever-increasing expenses associated with the rising cost of living
• They are in financial trouble and need to pay off debt faster
• They want to earn extra money to improve their standard of living
• They do not enjoy their primary job, and a second job can provide an outlet for creativity or to gain new experiences
• They work because it provides them with preparation for starting a business
• They enjoy the security that a second job affords
• They want to increase their savings or put money away in preparation for an early retirement

Problems Associated with Moonlighting

Moonlighting, however, does not come without potential problems. The people who moonlight need to be careful about the following pitfalls associated with taking a second

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