By Hannah Cameron, Ariana Turiansky, and Megan Warner
Overview
In today’s world, cyberloafing is becoming more and more of a problem. The word is so new that no definition for it exists in the Oxford English Dictionary. However, according to Urban Dictionary, it is the “norm” for 21st Century employees. Cyberloafing, also known as cyberslacking, consists of using the company internet for personal tasks such as chatting, email, shopping, etc. Find out what the top cyberloafing activites are here. This website will provide you with causes of cyberloafing, positive and negative consequences, and ways to prevent it in your office.
There is no one cause of cyberloafing behaviors in the workplace, which makes it a difficult issue to address. An internet presence in the workplace is the main facilitator, but anything from spare time, to dissatisfaction with one’s job, to a lack of sleep can lead to an increase in cyberloafing behaviors. As demands on workers increase, most cyberloafing occurs in an attempt to regulate the work-life balance. Furthermore, the behavior is almost contagious, as employees perceive and sometimes mimic the loafing behaviors of their coworkers.
Despite its prevalence, cyberloafing may not be a big cause for worry, according to recent research. The benefits that it provides in terms of recovery are numerous and may even increase worker productivity and well-being. Allowing employees to recover when certain situations arise can help restore energy, mental satisfaction, and lead to better work.
Even so, cyberloafing maintains its negative connotation because “loafing” usually means laziness. Getting caught feeding an online shopping addiction at work will most likely result in strict reprimands. Goofing around on the internet at work may also come with serious direct consequences such as losing one's job. Losing a job may result in indirect consequences, such as not being able to pay a mortgage. The chain of influence can continue on from there, and it must be asked if losing one's house, for example, is worth sending a personal email from work, or cyber shopping on company time. The negative aspects tab of this website will examine an article that provides a prime example of how cyberloafing can affect not only a person’s job, but the learning of students as well.
The question then becomes, how do you prevent cyberloafing? There are various techniques that can be used to help prevent cyberloafing from happening in your organization. It is important to remember that it is not enough to simply have a policy in place because it must also be enforced. Second, depending on how ethical your employees are, their likelihood of engaging in cyberloafing will vary. If the company treats its employees well and makes decisions ethically, there is a greater chance that the employees will notice this and will not want to do anything to harm the organization. Besides these methods, it is also possible to allot a specific amount of time for employees to use the Internet however they choose. This way, they can take a break and come back to their work with a clear head.
There is no one cause of cyberloafing behaviors in the workplace, which makes it a difficult issue to address. An internet presence in the workplace is the main facilitator, but anything from spare time, to dissatisfaction with one’s job, to a lack of sleep can lead to an increase in cyberloafing behaviors. As demands on workers increase, most cyberloafing occurs in an attempt to regulate the work-life balance. Furthermore, the behavior is almost contagious, as employees perceive and sometimes mimic the loafing behaviors of their coworkers.
Despite its prevalence, cyberloafing may not be a big cause for worry, according to recent research. The benefits that it provides in terms of recovery are numerous and may even increase worker productivity and well-being. Allowing employees to recover when certain situations arise can help restore energy, mental satisfaction, and lead to better work.
Even so, cyberloafing maintains its negative connotation because “loafing” usually means laziness. Getting caught feeding an online shopping addiction at work will most likely result in strict reprimands. Goofing around on the internet at work may also come with serious direct consequences such as losing one's job. Losing a job may result in indirect consequences, such as not being able to pay a mortgage. The chain of influence can continue on from there, and it must be asked if losing one's house, for example, is worth sending a personal email from work, or cyber shopping on company time. The negative aspects tab of this website will examine an article that provides a prime example of how cyberloafing can affect not only a person’s job, but the learning of students as well.
The question then becomes, how do you prevent cyberloafing? There are various techniques that can be used to help prevent cyberloafing from happening in your organization. It is important to remember that it is not enough to simply have a policy in place because it must also be enforced. Second, depending on how ethical your employees are, their likelihood of engaging in cyberloafing will vary. If the company treats its employees well and makes decisions ethically, there is a greater chance that the employees will notice this and will not want to do anything to harm the organization. Besides these methods, it is also possible to allot a specific amount of time for employees to use the Internet however they choose. This way, they can take a break and come back to their work with a clear head.