Cyberloafing and Employee Retention: An Analysis of Online Behaviour and Organizational Commitment in the Modern Workplace

Raymond Ayitey, MBA (General Management)Director & Founder: Rangiebury Recruitment Limited / Corel Works Consult Ltd / Rangiebury Health and Care Solutions / Corel Works Construction, United Kingdom; Paramis Consult, Corel Works Consult, Paradise School Seminary and Professional Training Institute, Paradise School of Ministry, Ghana.Email: [email protected] Year of Completion:2025 Institution:High Skies College, HSC. / University of Cape Coast, Ghana Type of Resource:Thesis / Dissertation/Project Work Degree Awarded:Master of Business Administration (MBA) in General Management AbstractThis thesis explores the prevalence of cyberloafing, or accessing the internet to engage in personal tasks on the job, and its relationship to employee retention in today's organisations. The study looks into whether staff members' online activities unrelated to work influence their participation, output, and long-term affiliation with their employers.Mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative information from structured questionnaires with qualitative information from open-ended interviews. Cyberloafing drivers were identified by the study to comprise organisational culture, workplace pressure, managerial monitoring techniques, and job satisfaction. Statistical results indicated that there was a moderate correlation between non-disruptive, controlled cyberloafing and higher employee satisfaction, suggesting that half-way online flexibility will improve retention compared to disabling it.The study concludes that moderate cyberloafing is not only counterproductive behavior but can also be a potential mechanism for work stress management and maintaining commitment. Recommendations are put forth to implement balanced digital policies, open monitoring systems, and training personnel to promote healthy use of technology. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on managing digital behavior, employee performance, and human resource practices in technologically enhanced workplaces. Keywords:Cyberloafing, Employee Retention, Digital Behaviour, Workplace Productivity, Human Resource Management, Organisational Behaviour, Employee Engagement Suggested Citation (APA 7th):Ayitey, R. (2025). Cyberloafing and Employee Retention: An Analysis of Online Behaviour and Organisational Commitment in the Modern Workplace [Master's thesis, [University of Cape Coast-Ghana]]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17388298 Repository:This thesis examines the relationship between employees' online workplace behavior (cyberloafing) and their levels of retention within organisations. Utilising the mixed-methods research design, the study presents an equitable overview of how online workplace behavior impacts engagement, satisfaction, and organisational commitment. The findings offer pragmatic suggestions for HR managers, managers, and policy-makers who hope to achieve a balance between productivity and employee well-being in a digitally networked working environment.