Take Back the Time That Should Be Mine: The Impact of Illegitimate Tasks on Cyberloafing

Abstract: Illegitimate tasks not only deplete employees’ psychological resources but also encroach upon their physical resources, especially their limited time. This encroachment leads to perceived time poverty (PTP), driving employees to adopt restorative behaviors, such as cyberloafing, to reclaim their lost time. This research uses conservation of resources theory as the basis to investigate the association between illegitimate tasks and cyberloafing, particularly considering PTP as a mediating factor. Two-wave time-lagged data were collected, with a sample of 316 employees in China. The findings indicate that illegitimate tasks and cyberloafing have a positive association, mediated by PTP. Finally, the association between PTP and cyberloafing is moderated by perceived opportunities, which also moderates the mediating effect.