Moonlighting

Definition

Holding a second job or working for a competitor during off-hours. Most employment contracts treat this like treason.

Example Usage

The non-compete clause was so broad that consulting on weekends technically violated his employment agreement.

Origin

From literally working by moonlight; documented as a practice since at least the 1700s.

Fun Fact

Companies prohibit moonlighting to control employee time while simultaneously refusing to pay enough to live on salary alone—the logic is airtight.

Source: Employment law and labor practices

Related Terms

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contingent workforce

Temporary workers, contractors, freelancers, and consultants who aren't regular employees. They're the corporate equivalent of a rental car: you use them when needed and return them without long-term commitment.

👥 Human Resources

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hamburger method

A feedback technique where criticism is sandwiched between two compliments, creating a positivity-negativity-positivity structure. It's the culinary approach to telling someone they're failing, though most employees can smell the BS from a mile away.

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Evergreen Recruitment

Continuously recruiting for positions even if they're not currently open. It's like fishing, but with résumés and desperation.

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Employer of choice

An organization known for being an excellent place to work, attracting and retaining top talent. It's the goal every company aspires to; few actually achieve it.

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employee value proposition

The unique set of benefits and experiences an employer offers in return for the skills and experience an employee brings. It's a marketing pitch, but for jobs instead of products.

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forced ranking

A performance management system requiring managers to rank employees against each other and place them into predetermined categories, typically firing the bottom performers. Jack Welch's gift to corporate culture, also known as 'rank and yank.'

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