Exploring the Impact of Information Overload and the Darkside of Digital Workplace on Employee Wellbeing: The Moderating Role of Peer Support

Abstract

This study investigates how the darkside of the digital workplace and information overload affect employee well-being, particularly with regard to the moderating role of peer support in the IT sector of Pakistan. The study’s foundation is the Job Demands-Resources model analyzes how constant connectivity, technological pressure, and excessive information flow can influence employee’s psychological and emotional state. A systematic survey was used to gather data of 185 IT professionals in Pakistan Convenience sampling was the method of choice, and SmartPLS 4 software had been used to analyze the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that both the darkside of the digital workplace and the information overload have detrimental effects on employee wellbeing. Although peer support is a moderator but it does not mitigate/reduce the stress caused by digital stressors. These results highlight the necessity for companies to adopt healthier digital practices, promote digital skills, and strengthen social support systems in the workplace. Overall, the study contributes to existing research by demonstrating how technology-related requirements continue to shape the modern working world and offers evidence-based recommendations for companies that want to protect the well-being of their employees in increasingly digitalized environments.