Wipro fired 300 employees after discovering they were working for a competitor at the same time, claimed Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji on September 21. The Chairman of Wipro stated that he stands by his recent comments on moonlighting being a complete violation of integrity “in its deepest form.”
“The reality is that there are people today working for Wipro and working directly for one of our competitors and we have actually discovered 300 people in the last few months who are doing exactly that,” Premji stated at the All India Management Association’s (AIMA) National Management Convention.
When asked about the action taken against employees who were found to be working for the company as well as rivals, Premji stated that their employment had been terminated for “acts of integrity violation.”
Moonlighting is the practice of working another job in the background. “As part of transparency, individuals can have candid and open conversations around playing in a band or “working on a project over the weekend”, he explained.
“That is an open conversation that the organisation and the individual can make a concerted choice about, on whether that works for them or doesn’t,” he stated.
Premji went on to say, “There is no space for someone to work for Wipro and competitor XYZ and they would feel exactly the same way if they were to discover the same situation.”
“That is what I meant…so I do stand by what I said…I do think it is a violation of integrity if you are moonlighting in that shape and form,” he stated.
In addition, Tech Mahindra CEO Anand Mahindra CP Gurnani recently remarked that it is vital to stay up with the changes, adding, “I welcome disruption in the ways we work.”
Infosys announced in a loud and firm warning to staff last week, “No two timing – no moonlighting!” Infosys’ internal communication titled “no double lives” made it clear that “dual employment is not permitted as per…Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct”.
“Any violation of these clauses will lead to disciplinary action which could even lead to termination of employment,” Infosys’ email stated.
