moonlighting
verb

- to work at an additional job, especially without telling your main employer

(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2009)

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WORD ORIGIN

The expression moonlighting comes from the idea that working an additional job often occurs at night. To work in the "light of the moon" also implies secrecy, so that the daytime employer will not find out.

Moonlighting is a controversial subject in some countries, where it can often be illegal. It is not uncommon for companies to state in an employment contract that having a second job is prohibited. For this reason the idea of moonlighting is usually shrouded in secrecy or viewed negatively.

While most people moonlight to make more money for themselves, others work second jobs with a higher purpose in mind. A primary school in West Yorkshire was so desperate for cash that the head-teacher took up a part-time job to help pay off the school debts.

Roger Brown, Head of Wrenthorpe Primary School, moonlighted as an Ofsted schools inspector. He made the decision because his school needed £42,000 to pay for essential repairs to its crumbling building. In order to pay for the repairs, two teachers were threatened with redundancy. But rather than lay them off, Mr Brown, together with two other members of staff, took up second jobs.

Mr Brown said the staff have now done their bit, and they will not be moonlighting again next year. He has not had a day off in 12 months. That's real dedication!

(source: BBC News)

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Practice OWAD in a conversation today:

"MOONLIGHTING is strictly forbidden under our conditions of work contract."