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Abusive Supervision and Employees Cyber-Loafing: Examination of Intermediation, Impediment and Spark

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This research examines the nexus between Abusive Supervision and Cyber-loafing behavior in banking sector employees. The banking sector is suitable for examination due to the prevalence of hierarchical structure and stress, creating a greater likelihood of abusive treatment. Through convenience sampling, we targeted 201 upper-level employees of various commercial banks in Pakistan and employed partial least squares structural equation modeling using SmartPLS. We found that (1) abusive treatment (β = 0.44) triggers cyber-loafing in employees. (2) Further, employee motivation (β = −.37) significantly mediates this relationship. (3) In addition to this, moral disengagement (β = .39) adds fuel to the fire. (4) However, organizational commitment (β = −.47) moderates the effect of abusive treatment on cyber-loafing behavior. The findings are valuable for authorities and policymakers to raise accountability, foster a supportive culture, initiate training programs and put efforts to ensure employee commitment. Further, the study uncovers the abuse-led behavior by adding mediation of motivation, spark of moral disengagement and moderation of organizational commitment. It documents the phenomena under the mixed guidelines of social exchange theory, social cognitive theory and conservation of resources theory.

Source: SAGE Open

DOI: 10.1177/21582440251410815

Authors: Usman Sarwar, Sonia Sattar, Anil Yasin Ar

Institutions: University of the Punjab, Beijing Institute of Technology, Tecnológico de Monterrey

Language: English

Topic: Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,600