Cyberloafing at Work

The term cyberloafing refers to employees’ use of Internet and e-mail technology for nonwork purposes during working hours. In other words, it is a high-tech method for employees to shirk their job duties while appearing to be working. Cyberloafing may include e-mailing jokes to friends, social networking, online shopping or game playing, downloading music, watching videos, instant messaging, posting to newsgroups, or surfing non-work-related Internet sites. These behaviors, also called cyberslacking or workplace Internet deviance, are even encouraged by some Web sites (e.g., www.ishouldbeworking.com). Cyberloafing is an important issue facing organizations as more employers are providing employees with Internet and e-mail access at work and more employees are bringing their own personal devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets) to work.