A REVIEW OF MOONLIGHTING LITERATURE: ANTECEDENTS, CONSEQUENCES, AND MEDIATING MECHANISMS IN POST-PANDEMIC WORKPLACES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEMP.935023Keywords:
Job Satisfaction, Moonlighting, Organizational Commitment, Work-Life BalanceAbstract
Moonlighting, the practice of holding secondary employment alongside a primary job, has emerged as a significant phenomenon reshaping contemporary employment relationships. This systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2026, examining antecedents, consequences, and mediating mechanisms of moonlighting behavior. Following PRISMA guidelines (Page et al., 2021), the review analyzed empirical studies from major academic databases. The findings reveal that job dissatisfaction, financial need, and work-life imbalance consistently predict moonlighting intentions, while organizational commitment and employee engagement serve as key mediating variables. Consequences include dual effects on organizational performance and employee well-being. Methodological limitations, including a regional bias towards South Asian contexts and a predominance of cross-sectional designs, are critically examined. The review proposes a dual-pathway conceptual framework to guide future research and offers practical implications for human resource management in hybrid work environments.
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