Smartphone use and work–home interference: The moderating role of social norms and employee work engagement

Abstract

Work in our modern society that is facilitated by communication technology involves connectivity, immediacy, and a blurring of boundaries between work and non-work domains. This 4-day quantitative diary study (N = 100 employees, N = 367-400 data points) aims to shed light on the relationship between daily smartphone use and daily work-home interference (WHI). Two potential moderators of this relationship are examined: (1) (strong) social norms represented by the influence of colleagues and supervisors regarding availability after work hours and (2) work engagement. Overall, the results of multilevel analyses were in line with the hypotheses. The findings suggest that supervisors should be clear about their expectations regarding smartphone use in private hours in that they should not expect employees to be always available. In addition we conclude that engaged workers can prevent work from interfering too much with their private lives, even when they use their smartphones during evening hours. Practitioner pointsEmployees working in an 'always-on' culture experience more WHI. Important role models, such as supervisors, should be aware that the emails they send during evening hours and weekends also have recipients. Supervisors should be careful in creating expectations regarding availability when they decide to provide smartphones to their employees.

Gestión individual del equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida personal: Revisión e integración de la literatura

“…Por último, una investigación reciente reveló que las normas sociales y el compromiso con la orga-nización son variables que moderan la relación entre el uso diario de smartphones para cuestiones laborales como estrategia individual y el conflicto trabajo-vida (Derks, Duin, Tims & Bakker, 2015). Específicamente, los empleados que experimentan presiones normativas (de sus supervisores y compañeros de trabajo) para mantenerse comunicado fuera del horario laboral, tienen mayor conflictividad trabajo-vida en aquellos días que se enfrentan a un mayor uso de smartphones y sufren, por ende, mayor agotamiento laboral (Derks et al, 2014).…”

Use of Mobile Technology After Work Hour and It’s Influence on Level of Stress, Job Satisfaction and General Life

“…This finding contradicts with the past finding from Stark (2015) where the study found that there is no strong correlation existing between after-hours mobile technology use and workplace burnout experienced by professionals in education sector. However, this finding is very closely related with the past finding such as Derks et al, (2015) concluding that too much interference with their private lives using mobile technology such as Smartphones after working hours may result in unproductive behaviour. Also another study showed that there were significant correlation between mobile technology use(Smartphones) after working hours with the level of stress experienced (Haris, 2014).…”

“…A research done by Stark (2015) found that there is no strong correlation between after-hours mobile technology use and workplace burnout experienced by professionals in education sector. In contrast Derks, van Duin, Tims and Bakker(2015) concluded that those employees who are really engaged and are performing highly, could be prevented from work due to too much interference with their private lives using mobile technology such as Smartphones during the after work hours. Also another study showed that there were significant correlation between smartphones use after working hours with level of stress experienced (Haris, 2014).…”

Determining The Factors Effecting Experience Quality: Travel and Work Related Smartphone Use in Travel, WorkTravel Interference and Experience Quality

“…Ayrıca akıllı telefonların sunduğu konum bazlı servisler, coğrafi olarak bulunduğumuz yerin ve kimlerle birlikte olduğumuzun bilinmesini mümkün kılmaktadır (Özdemir, 2014). Akıllı telefonlar kullanıcılara bir yandan uzatılmış mevcudiyet, tam zamanında bilgiye erişim, üretkenlik ve verimlilik sağlarken (Parasuraman ve Greenhaus 2002) diğer yandan, akıllı telefonlarda kullanılan bazı uygulamalar kullanıcılara çevrimiçi rezervasyon yapma, turistik çekiciliklerle ilgili bilgi arama imkânı vermektedir ( Derks, van Duin, Tims ve Bakker 2015;Derks ve Bakker, 2014).…”

“…Bu durum iş ve boş zamanın birbirine karışmasına yol açmakta ve insanları her daim ve her yerde işleriyle bağlantılı hale getirmekte ve işin hiç bir zaman bitmeyeceği algısını yaratarak ev ve iş arasında dengenin bozulmasına ve ev ve işin birbirine karışmasına neden olmaktadır ( Derks, van Duin, Tims ve Bakker 2015;Derks ve Bakker, 2014).…”