Is Cyberloafing Good Or Bad?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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On the surface, cyberloafing seems

like a bad habit

– as with any other form of procrastination. … Research actually suggests that a small amount of cyberloafing isn’t just harmless – it’s actually beneficial. Taking quick breaks allows our brains to recalibrate between tasks, and can help alleviate work stress.

Why is cyberloafing bad?

Cyberloafing isn’t just bad for your at-work rep,

it’s bad for your mental health and sense of self-worth

. When you waste time browsing the internet all day, all your tasks build up, you start leaving work later, and the stress builds up. If you’re falling into the habit it’s time for a serious shakeup.

Is cyberloafing legal?

For the most part, the answer is

no

. Employers generally have the legal right to monitor the performance of their employees in the workplace, and almost always include some language in their employee policies about monitoring electronic communications.

How long do employees spend cyberloafing?

The amount of time employees spend cyberloafing is estimated to range from

three hours a week to as much as 2.5 hours per day

. Triana says the amount of time employees spend cyberloafing is estimated to range from three hours a week to as much as 2.5 hours per day.

What does cyberloafing cost companies?

Cyberloafing costs employers

$4,500 per year, per employee

.

How can I stop Cyberloafing?

  1. Have a policy. Wait… …
  2. Take “group” social media breaks. When a work group takes a cyber-break together, everyone knows when their online time starts and ends. …
  3. Recognize the addiction. …
  4. Consider your monitoring strategy. …
  5. Provide meaningful work.

How do you manage Cyberloafing?

Organizations can manage the occurrence of cyber-loafing through three methods:

acceptable use policies, monitoring and filtering software, and organizational sanctions

. First, acceptable use policies for Internet and e-mail can be established.

Does telecommute mean work from home?

Telecommuting is

an employment arrangement in which the employee works outside of the employer’s office

. Often this means working from home or at a location close to home, such as a coffee shop, library, or co-working space.

How much time do employees waste on the internet?

The results showed: 39% of respondents said they spend an hour or less per week on non-work-related items. 29% spent

up to 2 hours per week

.

21% up to 5 hours

.

What is the meaning of Cyberloafing?

noun [uncountable]

using the Internet where you work, during working hours

, for activities which are not work-related.

What is Cyberslacking how does it affect a business?

Cyberslacking occurs

when an employee uses their work IT infrastructure to engage in personal tasks or entertainment

. Cyberslacking can lower employee productivity and create vulnerabilities in a company’s IT infrastructure depending on what the employee is doing.

How do employees justify Cyberloafing?

For example, a study by Vivien Lim, Thompson Teo, and Geok Leng Loo found that Singaporean employees agreed that cyberloafing is justified

when they put in extra effort to attain the information or resources they need to perform their jobs

, work overtime without compensation, are asked to do excessive amounts of work, …

What is monitoring in the workplace?

What is monitoring in the workplace? “Employee monitoring” refers to

the methods employers use to surveil their workplaces and their staff members’ whereabouts and activities

. These methods include employee monitoring software, time clocks, video surveillance, GPS systems and biometric technology.

What is employment theft?

Employee theft is

a crime that costs U.S. businesses an estimated $50 billion each year

, according to Statistic Brain. More commonly known as embezzlement, it is the crime of an employee taking the personal property of the employer, which was entrusted to that employee.

What type of withdrawal behavior is cyberloafing?

Cyberloafing takes time away from work and would therefore be considered a type of

withdrawal behavior

, like absenteeism, lateness, and taking extended breaks. If cyberloafing is a typical withdrawal behavior, then we should observe the same patterns of relationships in both the withdrawal and cyberloafing literatures.

How does having a social media policy benefit a business?

By creating a social media policy that

provides guidelines and expected behavior

, you can feel confident in your employees’ online presence. You may even find that their activity on social platforms promotes your business, driving brand awareness and increasing customer loyalty.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.