Cyberloafing in the Workplace

Abstract

Cyberloafing is employees’ intentional use of Internet technology during work hours for personal purposes. This can include surfing non-work related Internet sites, sending personal emails, online gaming, or social networking. Given the prevalence of cyberloafing and its negative consequences (e.g., reduced productivity, network clogging, security breaches), organizations have responded by implementing Internet use policies, filtering or monitoring Internet activity, and disciplining policy violators. Recently, attention has shifted away from identifying methods to limit cyberloafing to pinpointing the causes of cyberloafing. This emerging research suggests that employees are more likely to cyberloaf when they are treated unfairly, have certain characteristics like external locus of control or higher work status, have positive attitudes toward cyberloafing, or there are norms supporting it. The authors offer directions for future research that include exploring the possibility that cyberloafing can lead to positive outcomes like increased job performance, reduced stress, and work-life balance.