The effects and moderators of cyber-loafing controls: an empirical study of Chinese public servants

Cyber-loafing—using the internet for non-work purposes during work time—can lower employee productivity and expose organizations to security risks. Organizations need to control this type of behavior. We studied two control methods: internet use policies and electronic monitoring. We empirically investigated the effectiveness of these two methods and how their effectiveness is influenced by the employees’ individual differences. Based on the data collected from 209 Chinese public servants, we found that both methods can significantly lower employees’ cyber-loafing intentions. Additionally, an internet use policy is more effective for employees with a high level of self-esteem than for those with a low level of self-esteem, whereas electronic monitoring is more effective for employees with a high level of job satisfaction than for those with a low level of job satisfaction. This study advances the theoretical understanding of methods for the control of cyber-loafing and has practical implications for the mitigation of its negative effects.

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