Unveiling the roots of cyberloafing

Abstract

In an era where work and workplaces are increasingly digitized, the pervasive phenomenon of cyberloafing—diverting work hours to non-job-related online activities—poses a growing challenge. This study delves into the intricacies of cyberloafing among Indian IT professionals, identifying and prioritizing its antecedents using a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Surveying 250 employees from CMMI Level 5 IT companies in Delhi-NCR, our findings reveal that interpersonal factors hold the most significant weight (58.7%) in contributing to cyberloafing, followed by individual (29.7%) and situational antecedents (11.6%). Notably, factors such as status at work (44.3%), personality (15.6%), and managerial support (14.4%) emerged as crucial sub criteria. This research not only adds precision to understanding cyberloafing but also proposes tailored measures to mitigate its impact. Our results underscore the imperative for organizations to address cyberloafing, especially in the context of the dynamic Indian IT landscape.