A Daily Diary Study on Technology-Assisted Supplemental Work, Unfinished Tasks, and Sleep: The Role of Problem-Solving Pondering

Engaging in work-related activities after hours is increasingly common among knowledge workers due to modern information and communication technologies. The potential downsides of technology-assisted supplemental work (TASW) are well-researched. In contrast, the question how TASW can support employees in meeting their work demands has not received sufficient attention. Building on conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989), we proposed that TASW is related to fewer unfinished tasks at the end of the day (i.e., before going to bed). We further hypothesized that fewer unfinished tasks, in turn, will be associated with better sleep quality and quantity. In addition, we expected that high (vs. low) levels of problem-solving pondering strengthen the negative relationship between TASW and unfinished tasks. We tested these hypotheses using a daily diary study (N = 100 employees). Participants answered two surveys per day (1 before going to bed and 1 after waking up) throughout one workweek. Results of multilevel analyses showed that daily TASW was negatively related to daily unfinished tasks, but only when daily problem-solving pondering was high. Daily TASW, but not daily unfinished tasks, was negatively associated with daily sleep quantity. We discuss practical implications and future research avenues regarding the relationship between TASW and sleep.