Antecedents and consequences of boss phubbing in the technology-driven universities

Purpose Technology brings prosperity along with workplace deviations. This study examines the antecedents and consequences of boss phubbing through the lens of social exchange theory. It explores factors influencing boss phubbing and its impact on office clutter, employees' silence and employees' mental health in universities known for technology education. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 552 faculty members across Pakistani universities provided the responses through a structured survey for diverse representation. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. Findings The relationships were significant and affirmed that boss phubbing is an issue hampering the university's operation. Workload, stress and lack of empathy contributed to boss phubbing, which in turn led to office clutter, employee silence and mental health issues among faculty members. Practical implications Universities may consider redistributing workload to reduce supervisors' continued focus on the phone. Introducing guidelines to encourage mindful use of phones may be beneficial during face-to-face interactions with employees. Exploring the benefits of empathy and communication training for supervisors can enhance open communication in the workplace, which may also strengthen employees’ mental health. Originality/value Boss phubbing is uniquely examined using social exchange theory, identifying its causes and effects in an academic setting.