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 points Employees 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.