Title: What is behind cyberslacking? Investigating the effects of job stress and ethical climate at workplace

Authors: Natasha Tageja; Deepika Mishra; Vijit Chaturvedi; Namita Rajput

Addresses: Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India ' College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi, India ' Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301, India ' Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, India

Abstract: With increased internet and technology penetration into the lives of individuals, managers are faced with more cyberslacking tendencies among employees more than ever. The purpose of this study is to understand the likelihood of job stress in predicting cyberslacking among employees. It also aims to study ethical climate in buffering the effects of job stress on cyberslacking. Responses were collected from a sample of 272 employees working for three private IT sector firms working from home by way of structured questionnaire. Structural equation modelling technique was used to analyse causal relationships. Findings revealed that a positive relationship existed between job stress and cyberslacking, moreover ethical climate mitigated the direct effects created by job stress on cyberslacking tendencies among these employees. The study holds major implications for occupations wherein job stress is highly prevalent resulting in low productivity among its employees, for which cyberslacking may be a significant cause.

Keywords: cyberslacking; ethical climate; unethical behaviour; job stress; coping theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2024.142351

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2024 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.530 - 544

Received: 04 Jul 2021
Accepted: 08 Jul 2021
Published online: 25 Oct 2024 *

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