IMPACT OF CYBERLOAFING ON JOB PERFORMANCE: INVESTIGATING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SELF-CONTROL – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF IT PROFESSIONALS IN COLOMBO DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Abstract

This study with the advancements in communication technology, the state of the communications network has become considerably improved. When it comes to organizations, they are moving towards digitalization, and it leads to a rise in internet usage within the workplace. Employees are misusing company-provided internet instead of using it for work-related tasks. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to identify the impact of Cyberloafing on Job performance and the mediating effect of self-control. Cyberloafing is a most attack to cybersecurity. Hence this study is quantitative and cross-sectional study which was based on an organization in IT industry employees. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and 138 employees participated in this study. The data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Employees in the sample have shown a higher degree of engagement in Cyberloafing. Among them, more than 80% of the employees were highly engaged in cyberloafing activities during the Work time. The analyzed results show that there is a significant negative impact of cyberloafing on job performance. Further, it is found that while there is a significant impact of self-control as a mediator on the relationship between cyberloafing and job performance. Further, that, since a negative relationship exists between cyberloafing and job performance, in IT work setting. Further, the conducive to the enhancement of individual self-control, there is a likelihood of cultivating a counterproductive workforce. Therefore, the current study suggested that to conduct the study by considering all organizations in the business world within Sri Lanka and organizational support and self-control policies that will help employees to maintain better job performance to get an effective output.