Authors : Arindam Bhattacharjee, Anita Sarkar
DOI : 10.1108/apjba-07-2024-0376
Volume : 0
Issue : 0
Year : 2025
Page No : 0
PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to understand whether, why and when role overload predicts an organization-directed CWB: cyberloafing. To do so, we utilize the Stressor-Emotion–CWB theory and social exchange theory.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data from 506 employees working in five Information Technology (IT) firms in India using a multiwave survey design. Results revealed support for all the hypotheses.FindingsThis study found that negative affect partly carries the influence of role overload to cyberloafing. Secondly, the results indicate that role overload has a direct and positive relationship with cyberloafing. Third and finally, we found that narcissism moderates the positive relationship between role overload and negative affect, followed by cyberloafing.Originality/valueThis paper showcases that role overload can evoke cyberloafing both as a coping mechanism and a retaliatory response directed at the organization. This paper further demonstrates that employees high in narcissism are vulnerable to stressors like role overload, and as a result, they experience more negative emotions and engage in more cyberloafing.