Navigating the digital distraction: Unravelling the impact of cyberloafing on employee performance

Gabriel Kwasi  Aboagye; Emmanuel Quayson; Stella Kwaw-Nimeson; Daniel Kweku Anhwere; Emmanuel Essandoh; Ernest Ampomah Arkoh; Benjamin Asiedu-Boamah; Eric Teye Baafi; Bennice Nelson

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.28

Authors

Gabriel Kwasi Aboagye University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6460-6795
Emmanuel Quayson University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3846-5441
Stella Kwaw-Nimeson Enyan Denkyira Community Bank Limited, Ghana Author
Daniel Kweku Anhwere University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7533-4740
Emmanuel Essandoh University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author
Ernest Ampomah Arkoh European Institute of Management and Technology (EIMT), Ghana Author
Benjamin Asiedu-Boamah Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Ghana Author
Eric Teye Baafi University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8078-3606
Bennice Nelson University of Cape Coast, Ghana Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.28

Keywords:

Banking Sector, Cyberloafing Behaviour, Digital Distraction, Employee Performance, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the impact of cyberloafing on employee performance in the Ghanaian banking industry and was grounded in the conservation of resources theory. This study adopted the quantitative research approach using an explanatory research design. The population of the study constituted 1,300 employees from the five largest banks in Ghana, namely Ghana Commercial Bank PLC, Ecobank Ghana PLC, ABSA Bank Ghana Limited, Access Bank Ghana PLC, and Agricultural Development Bank PLC. A sample size of 646 employees was selected using cluster sampling and simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents and the data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages) and structural equation modeling using SPSS version 27 and Smart PLS version 4.1.1.4. The bootstrapping results indicated that all the dimensions of cyberloafing behaviour have a statistically significant positive influence on employee performance. The study concluded that cyberloafing is not inherently detrimental to organizational outcomes, as commonly perceived, but may serve important psychological, cognitive, and emotional functions that support employees in meeting workplace demands. It is recommended that management of banks in Ghana should adopt balanced and realistic internet-use policies that regulate excessive cyberloafing without completely restricting employees’ access to non-work-related online activities.

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