Understanding the Impact of employee’s Sense of Surveillance on Cyberloafing Behavior: A study on IT professionals

Abstract

This thesis addresses the problem of engagement in cyberloafing and its relationship with the sense of surveillance felt by employees. The study explores how sense of surveillance affects employees engaging in cyberloafing behavior. By employing a conceptual research model based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the study incorporates the sense of surveillance felt by employers. Data from 202 IT professionals were collected and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), revealing the variance between the sense of surveillance and engagement in cyberloafing behavior. The findings demonstrate a direct link between employees' sense of surveillance and their engagement in cyberloafing activities. The study argues that a greater perception of observation and control by the company results in reduced participation in cyberloafing behaviors. Additionally, the research highlights the role of employee self-efficacy in protecting themselves from detection, which influences their involvement in cyberloafing activities. This work significantly contributes to the understanding of cyberloafing within the workplace, shedding light on its effects on both employers and employees. The study provides insights for IT professionals to gain a deeper understanding of cyberloafing activities and offers recommendations for addressing this issue effectively.