Don't blame it on the moonlight

Bosses are still in the dark over the extent to which employees are moonlighting to make a little extra money on the side. But is it a case of what you don't know can't hurt you? Louise Druce investigates.

With Christmas looming around the corner, many people will be tempted into taking on extra jobs to finance parties and presents. For the most-part, less Scrooge-like bosses probably wouldn't begrudge you earning a few extra quid to keep staff sweet – it's when you haven't admitted what you're up to that it will become a season to be far from jolly.

Moonlighting opens up a huge crater of problems for bosses and employees alike. Of course, there are the legal consequences of what furtive employees are up to, but it also begs the question of why staff feel the need to do it in the first place. And despite what you might think, it doesn't always boil down to cash.