The impact of work-related ICT use on perceived injustice: Exploring the effects of work role overload and psychological detachment

Abstract

Multiple studies have provided evidence that the hospitality and tourism sector is experiencing a growing reliance on information and communication technology (ICT). Consequently, employees in this industry are facing an escalating expectation to stay connected and address work-related communication even outside their regular working hours. Little is known about how using ICTs during off-job can raise employee unfairness perceptions and job overload and how managers can control this. The primary focus of the current study is to examine the association between work-related ICT use after hours and employees' perceived injustice and the mediating role of work-role overload and the moderating role of psychological detachment in this relationship within the hospitality and tourism industry. By convenient sampling method, 400 employee responses were collected. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with the "Partial least squares (PLS)" technique, employing SmartPLS-4 software. The empirical findings demonstrate a positive association between work-related ICT use after hours and employees' perceived injustice (EPI) and work role overload (WRO). Similarly, the mediating role of work-role overload and the moderating role of psychological detachment were supported. The study concludes by providing theoretical and practical implications and discusses how these findings can be applied within the tourism and hospitality industry.