How Soham Parekh Case Exposed the Need for Employee Monitoring

Soham Parekh, a remote engineer recently exposed for secretly working multiple full-time jobs across startups, has become the poster child for the rising wave of employee moonlighting. His story isn’t rare—it’s a warning. 

For startup founders managing distributed teams, the Parekh scandal highlights critical vulnerabilities in remote employee oversight that can cost companies thousands in lost productivity and compromised security. 

This is exactly the kind of scenario Prodaff was designed to prevent—by offering ethical, transparent oversight for distributed teams without sacrificing privacy. The Parekh incident underscores why effective employee productivity monitoring software isn’t optional for startups—it’s essential for survival. 

Unlike generic monitoring tools, Prodaff helps companies detect remote moonlighting early while maintaining employee trust through transparent, data-driven insights. 

Understanding the True Costs of Moonlighting 

Moonlighting significantly heightens operational and financial risks, leading to: 

• Productivity Losses: Companies pay full salaries to employees who deliver only partial effort, increasing financial strain. 

• Morale Damage: Persistent underperformance from certain employees diminishes overall team trust and morale. 

• Operational Delays: Underperforming employees cause delays, enabling competitors to advance. 

• Reputational Risks: Stakeholders increasingly scrutinize companies that fail to ensure proper workforce accountability.

Strategic Benefits of Employee Monitoring for Preventing Moonlighting 

These promote team accountability and strengthen organizational performance. It ensures that remote and hybrid teams stay focused, efficient, and aligned with business goals. 

Real-Time Activity Monitoring 

Track engagement and verify presence in real-time: 

• Monitor Input Behavior: Captures keyboard strokes and mouse movement 

• Track Digital Activity: Logs application usage and websites visited during work hours 

• Enable Visual Verification: Optional screenshot capture confirms active participation without being invasive 

Idle Time Detection 

Identify productivity gaps and encourage re-engagement: 

• Trigger Inactivity Alerts: Sends real-time notifications when users exceed idle thresholds 

• Spot Work Patterns: Dashboards visualize active vs. idle time trends across individuals or teams 

• Detect Risk Behavior: Differentiates between reasonable breaks and prolonged disengagement 

Performance Analytics 

Leverage productivity insights for smarter decision-making: 

• Benchmark Output: Compare performance across roles, departments, or locations 

• Spot Underperformance Early: Identify individuals or teams slipping below productivity norms 

• Optimize Workloads: Reallocate tasks to balance capacity and reduce burnout 

Companies using Prodaff report increased focus during peak hours and improved alignment between logged time and actual deliverables—while catching moonlighting threats before they escalate. 

Cybersecurity and Data Protection 

Employee monitoring software plays a critical role for remote or hybrid teams where traditional oversight is limited. 

Key Advantages 

Prevent Data Breaches 

• Detects unusual behaviors and unauthorized access attempts 

• Flags risky file transfers or access to sensitive systems 

• Helps identify insider threats before damage occurs 

Ensure Compliance 

• Maintains real-time activity logs for audit readiness 

• Supports regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2) 

• Enables accurate forensic investigations when needed 

Reduce Remote Work Vulnerabilities 

• Identifies access from unsecured networks or personal devices 

• Helps enforce device usage policies 

• Tracks activity to mitigate shadow IT and unauthorized tools 

Since moonlighting often involves data movement to personal systems or third-party apps, having a time tracker software that monitors employees serves as a frontline defense. It detects unauthorized behavior and helps in protecting intellectual property before it’s compromised. 

Ethical and Transparent Implementation 

Successful monitoring isn’t about surveillance—it’s about building a culture of transparency and accountability. 

• Set Clear Expectations: Introduce monitoring policies during onboarding and explain the “why”—to protect assets and support performance 

• Focus on Productivity, Not Policing: Use data to identify bottlenecks and guide employee productivity. Rather than flagging issues, take insights to support productivity. 

• Empower with Data: Help employees understand their own productivity patterns so they can make transparent evaluations and proactively be more accountable. 

• Encourage Constant Conversation: Regularly review employee working trends on a timely basis. It helps establish open lines for feedback so employees feel supported rather than watched. 

Proven Return on Investment 

Employee monitoring delivers business impact across growth, security, and retention. 

• Lower Attrition & Hiring Costs: Address performance gaps early 

• Boosted Team Output: Real-time insights improve task allocation and collaboration 

• Stronger IP Protection: Oversight reduces the risk of internal threats 

A SHRM study found that automated time tracking cuts time theft by 50% and boosts efficiency by 30% in six months. For growing firms, that means stronger margins, faster growth, and better retention. 

Selecting the Right Monitoring Tool 

Choose monitoring software that balances performance with privacy and scales with your business needs: 

• Scalability – Supports growth from small teams to large organizations 

• Integrations – Connects easily with HR, project management, and communication tools 

• User Experience – Simple, intuitive design with minimal training required 

• Privacy Controls – Enables transparent, ethical monitoring with configurable settings

Conclusion 

The Soham Parekh incident serves as a wake-up call for organizations worldwide. Transparent employee monitoring platforms like Prodaff help companies safeguard against moonlighting, protect sensitive data, and foster a culture of accountability and performance. 

Unlike generic tools that focus on surveillance, Prodaff prioritizes: 

• Privacy-first Monitoring: No stealth tracking—only transparent, session-based data 

• Productivity Insights: Real-time dashboards and performance summaries that help teams focus on outcomes 

• Flexible Alerts and Rules: Set your own thresholds for idle time, app usage, or flagged behaviors 

• Ethical Implementation: Built-in features that respect employee privacy while providing necessary oversight 

Companies using Prodaff not only identify issues like dual employment faster but also improve focus and fairness across their workforce. In an era where remote work is permanent, proactive monitoring is now essential.