Wearing too many hats: unravelling the hidden challenges of moonlighting employees

Purpose Moonlighting has evolved into a structurally embedded feature of contemporary work, shaped by economic pressures and shifting career logics. However, extant research has largely focused on its antecedents and outcomes, offering limited insight into the lived challenges experienced by employees engaged in moonlighting. This study aims to systematically identify, model and analyse the multidimensional challenges associated with moonlighting. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a multi-method research design. Firstly, qualitative inquiry is used to identify key challenges faced by moonlighting employees. These challenges are then structurally modelled using modified total interpretive structural modelling to explicate their interrelationships. Finally, MICMAC analysis is applied to assess the relative driving and dependence power of the identified challenges. Findings This study identifies a comprehensive set of affective, behavioural and cognitive challenges characterising the moonlighting experience. The findings further reveal a hierarchical structure in which cognitive challenges function as foundational drivers, exerting a cascading influence on affective and behavioural challenges. Research limitations/implications The findings have implications for current and prospective moonlighters by elucidating the short-term, mid-term and long-term impacts of these challenges. However, this study is constrained by the context-specific nature of its sample. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to unveil the challenges faced by moonlighting employees, thereby contributing novel insights to the existing body of moonlighting literature and laying the groundwork for future research.