The Role of Sleep in Navigating Off-Work ICT Work Demands

In today’s constantly connected work environment, employees face increasing off-hour interruptions driven by information and communication technologies (ICT), which can deplete cognitive resources and contribute to emotional exhaustion. Drawing on Domain Switch Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, we examine how sleep functions not merely as a disrupted outcome of ICT demands but as a protective resource that helps employees manage the cumulative strain of off-hour interruptions. Using five-day multilevel data from working adults, we find that off-hour interruptions mediate the relationship between ICT availability demands and next-day emotional exhaustion, and that this indirect effect is significantly weaker among individuals who obtain more sleep. Our findings position sleep as a strategic resilience factor and offer theoretical and practical insights for supporting employee well-being in digitally demanding work settings.