The Impact of Work-Related Use of Information and Communication Technologies After Hours on Time Theft

Chenqian Xu (), Zhu Yao () and Zhengde Xiong ()
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Chenqian Xu: Xiangtan University
Zhu Yao: Hunan University
Zhengde Xiong: Hunan University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2023, vol. 187, issue 1, No 10, 185-198

Abstract: Abstract Time theft is a prevalent, costly, and generally discreet employee activity in firms; nonetheless, very limited research is available on it. To explore why, how, and when employees exhibit time theft, we investigate the influence mechanism of work-related use of information and communication technologies after hours (W_ICTs) on time theft from the perspective of resource gain and loss. Our study found that W_ICTs significantly promotes employee time theft. Emotional exhaustion and moral disengagement play a mediating role in the relationship between W_ICTs and time theft, respectively, and these two variables have a chain-mediating role in the relationship above. Perceived organizational support moderates this chain mediation by moderating the positive effect of W_ICTs on emotional exhaustion. Overall, the findings have important theoretical and managerial implications for research on W_ICTs and time theft.

Keywords: Work-related use of ICTs; Perceived organizational support; Emotional exhaustion; Moral disengagement; Time theft (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05167-1

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