Firms tighten checks as moonlighting rises
Such discrepancies are automatically flagged and escalated for client review. The final determination of risk or policy breach rests with the client, guided by their internal policies, risk tolerance, and candidate discussions.
Background verification firm OnGrid reported a surge in screening activity. In the first six months of the current year, it processed 23,000 employment verifications—already 87% of the total 26,000 conducted last year.
A key driver is employment history checks, often used to detect moonlighting. These checks flagged 2,900 cases in the first half of this year, up from 2,201 in all of last year. OnGrid tracks Universal Account Numbers (UANs), employment timelines, and personal records to spot overlapping jobs and undisclosed roles.
Manav Jain, chief business officer at OnGrid, said that post-pandemic, with the rise of remote, hybrid, and freelance models, moonlighting cases increased.
The flexibility of these arrangements made it easier for some to take on secondary jobs. Economic factors also push professionals to seek backup income or job security. During the pandemic, many employees were not fully engaged during typical work hours, and without robust monitoring tools, some used the extra time to take on additional work, which over time became habitual for some.
You Can Also Check:
Bengaluru AQI
|
Weather in Bengaluru
|
Bank Holidays in Bengaluru
|
Public Holidays in Bengaluru
Rahul Maheshwari, former Google employee and founder of edtech platform Linux Socials, said many professionals are turning to teaching as a side gig to cope with job uncertainty.
"Several work as freelancers, taking teaching assignments without going through the PF route. I currently have around 20 professionals from top MNCs who double up as instructors on the platform—many are here to cope with the current instability," he said.
Maheshwari himself was asked to stop sharing tutorials on YouTube and LinkedIn after HR classified it as moonlighting. Though he insisted teaching wasn't moonlighting, he resigned to avoid friction—even though it didn't interfere with his day job.
Background verification firm AuthBridge reports that 5 out of every 100 candidates engage in dual employment. Nearly 90% of these cases come from the IT services sector, mainly in Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In one case, a developer was simultaneously employed at five companies, including two direct competitors. AuthBridge uncovered this overlap through PF records and Form 26AS.
The shift to remote work during Covid also sparked a surge in multi-employment cases.
OnGrid found one candidate joined 50 companies in a single year, worked seven years with 141 employers on record. In 2021, she added 21 more employers and was simultaneously on payroll at 10 companies. This included full-time roles at big names, startups, and established MNCs—not just freelance or contract work.
In 2022, Wipro chairman Rishad Premji said that the company fired 300 employees in the past few months for working for direct competitors while being on the rolls of Wipro.
Traditional background checks—focused solely on verifying previous employment—can no longer catch these complex cases. That's why companies are moving toward comprehensive employment history checks (EHCs), which reveal undisclosed concurrent employment and other hidden risks.
"In today's hybrid and remote environments, the risk of dual employment is too high to ignore. We strongly advise all clients to adopt EHCs as an essential tool for thorough risk mitigation—not just a checkbox in the hiring process," Jain added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Strong monsoon, rising wages, and govt spending fuel rural economy recovery: Report
India's rural economy is showing early signs of a broad-based recovery, bolstered by a strong start to the monsoon season, a rebound in rural wages as inflation eases, and a renewed push in government spending, according to a report by the Ambit asset management firm . Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The report added that these positive developments are expected to lift rural demand, improve agricultural productivity, and provide momentum to overall economic growth in the coming quarters. "As we head into FY26, green shoots are emerging. A strong start to the monsoon season, a resurgence in rural wages (driven by easing inflation), and higher government spending are setting the stage for a broad-based rural recovery," the report added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo The report highlights that the monsoon has begun on a promising note in FY26, with June rainfall at 105 per cent of the long-period average (LPA). Unlike previous years that were marred by erratic patterns, this year has seen more uniform and timely distribution, critical for sowing across pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals. Kharif sowing is already 8 per cent ahead YoY as of July-end. After years of stagnation, rural wages (both agri and non-agri) are seeing signs of revival. Real wage growth turned positive in mid-FY25, aided by falling inflation and increased government Live Events infrastructure push (roads, housing, Jal Jeevan Mission). The report added that MGNREGA demand is also moderating, indicating improved job availability. This pickup in wage growth is boosting rural liquidity and helping rebuild household savings, enabling higher spending on FMCG, durables, and low-end 2Ws. The last three years have been particularly challenging for rural India, marked by wage stagnation, weak demand across sectors such as FMCG, retail, and two-wheelers, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reverse migration disrupted rural employment, and agricultural distress intensified as input costs (fertilisers, diesel, pesticides) surged. The pandemic severely strained rural India. Rising inflation, stagnant wages, and muted demand significantly impacted household savings and consumption. Between 2020 and 2023, rural inflation climbed to 7.5 per cent, led by agricultural distress from erratic monsoons, unseasonal weather events, and rising input costs. Farm incomes were squeezed as market prices for many crops remained subdued, while the cost of essentials like diesel and fertilisers soared. The FMCG sector, a key barometer of rural demand, experienced a marked slowdown in earnings between Financial Year (FY) 2020 and FY24. The agri-inputs sector -- comprising fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, and seeds -- has been under earnings pressure over the last few years, mirroring the broader stress in rural India. The report added that between FY20 and FY24, earnings growth for several players slowed considerably, as they were weighed down by weak farm incomes, erratic monsoons, input cost inflation, and inventory destocking. Rural housing, a key enabler of consumption, employment, and building material demand, witnessed a visible slowdown during FY20-FY24.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
IRS approved $1390 stimulus checks this month? Here's the truth behind viral claims
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has shut down social media claims that new stimulus checks worth $1,390 are on the way to millions of Americans. This comes days after posts about the alleged IRS and Treasury Department payments for low- and middle-income taxpayers surfaced. President Donald Trump's name is printed on a stimulus check issued by the IRS (AP) The agency confirmed those reports are inaccurate, noting no new stimulus program has been authorized. Why the rumor spread The speculation may have stemmed from a separate IRS announcement earlier this year, when the agency distributed $2.4 billion to taxpayers who had not claimed the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. That credit, worth up to $1,400 per person, was tied to COVID-era stimulus programs, but the deadline to file for it passed on April 15. 'Millions of Americans could soon receive a $1,390 stimulus check, according to reports citing the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS. The payment is aimed at providing relief to low and middle-income households and is expected to roll out in late summer,' one account noted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. The facts New stimulus payments cannot be issued without congressional approval. No legislation authorizing such payments has been passed in 2024. The IRS has made no announcements about fresh relief programs. Congress previously approved three rounds of direct relief during the pandemic under the CARES Act, the COVID-related Tax Relief Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act. The last payments were tied to the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. Sen Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act in July, which would send at least $600 per taxpayer using tariff revenues, plus additional funds for families with children. But the measure remains in committee and has not advanced in either chamber of Congress. Hawley argues Americans 'deserve a tax rebate' and compares his plan to earlier proposals from President Donald Trump. Supporters say the rebates would provide immediate financial relief. Critics, however, caution that relying on tariff revenue is unstable and point out that no checks could be issued without congressional approval. Tax scam warning signs 'Scammers mislead you about tax refunds, credits and payments. They pressure you for personal, financial or employment information or money. IRS impersonators try to look like us,' the IRS said. Watch out for: A big payday - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Bad tax advice on social media may convince you to lie on tax forms or mislead you about credits you can claim. Demands or threats - Impersonators want you to pay 'now or else.' They threaten arrest or deportation. They don't let you question or appeal the amount of tax you owe. Website links - Odd or misspelled web links can take you to harmful sites instead of
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Cattle rally on tight supplies, rising beef prices
CHICAGO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rallied on Friday on soaring beef prices and tight supplies of cattle as imports from Mexico remain suspended due to the spread of New World screwworm south of the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday announced it would spend $750 million to build a facility in Texas that produces sterile flies to fight the flesh-eating livestock pest. Feeder cattle futures extended gains on the news as some traders had expected the agency to ease import restrictions when USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said earlier in the week she would be making a "major announcement" about screwworm. "You had the screw worm updates, and obviously trade didn't take them as bearish. We're making progress, such as with the production facility, but the border is still closed and there's no timeline on that. It's easy to see buyers come back in," said Matthew Wiegand, broker at FuturesOne. CME October live cattle futures ended 3.825 cents higher at 230.650 cents per pound after rising to within 0.975 cent of a contract high posted last week. September feeder cattle jumped 6.325 cents to 347.350 cents per pound. Soaring wholesale beef prices kept cattle futures well supported. The choice boxed beef cutout value was up $6.78 on Friday at $400.57 per hundredweight (cwt), the highest since the early days of the Covid pandemic in May 2020, according to USDA data. The select beef cutout was up $3.88 at $370.76 per cwt. Lean hog futures followed cattle markets higher on Friday after sinking to a two-week low in the prior session, although gains were held in check by expectations for rising supplies. CME October lean hogs gained 0.975 cent to settle at 90.100 cents per pound. (Reporting by Karl Plume; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
