Examining Toxic Leadership Nexus With Employee Cyberloafing Behavior via Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion

Abstract

From the perspective of social exchange and the conservation of resources theories, the current study investigated the effect of toxic leadership on employee cyberloafing behaviour via the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of organisational commitment. SPSS models 1:moderation, 4: mediation, and 14: moderation mediation of PROCESS Hayes were used to evaluate the data from 357 employees of the Chinese corporate sector. The results show a positive relation between toxic leadership and cyberloafing, and emotional exhaustion mediates this relationship. Further, organisation commitment moderates the indirect, interactive effect of toxic leadership and emotional exhaustion on cyberloafing. The model was tested using 3-wave data; however, since the data were attained from a single source, the problem of common method bias cannot be ruled out. To avoid or lessen instances of cyberloafing behaviour and encourage good working attitudes, organisations must also take action and develop regulations governing internet use in the workplace.