How and when work-related ICT use after hours leads to employee unethical pro-family behavior: A moderated mediation model

BackgroundWork-related information and communication technology use after hours (WICT) increasingly blurs work and family boundaries. Excessive WICT can lead to unintended consequences.ObjectiveBased on affective events theory (AET), we aim to explore how and when WICT leads to employees' unethical pro-family behaviors (UPFB).MethodsWe employ a mixed-method approach to examine hypotheses, including an experimental study using a facial expression recognition software, Noldus FaceReader 5.0 (Study 1, N = 119 students), and a weekly diary study (Study 2, N = 83 full-time teachers).ResultsResults show that WICT positively relates to employees' UPFB through the mediating roles of work-to-family guilt and work-to-family resentment. Moreover, polychronic orientation can weaken these negative reactions toward WICT.ConclusionsOrganizations should reduce unnecessary demands for employees' WICT and avoid assigning positions with high WICT requirements to employees with low polychronic orientation.