Problematic Internet usage and safety behavior: Does time autonomy matter?

•Examines the association between problematic Internet use (PIU) & safety behavior.•Examines the moderating role of time autonomy on the abovesaid associations.•PLS-SEM results show that PIU reduces while time autonomy enhances safety behavior.•Time autonomy attenuates the negative impact of PIU on safety behavior. Modern organizations must use the Internet, digital and mobile devices to respond to business demands efficiently. It is also imperative for practitioners and researchers to understand the adverse effects of problematic Internet and mobile device usage in the workplace. Moreover, findings from existing studies are insufficient or less relevant or lack applicability in the context of workplace safety behavior. This paper contributes to the literature by examining the mechanisms in which problematic Internet usage lowers workers safety behavior and the moderating role of time autonomy. Data was obtained from workers in the Turkish maritime industry using a simple random sampling technique (n = 344) and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results from PLS-SEM demonstrate that problematic Internet use reduces safety behavior and time autonomy enhances safety behavior. Time autonomy attenuates the negative impact of problematic Internet use on safety behavior. Unlike previous studies, this paper highlights the pernicious effects of problematic Internet use and beneficial effects of time autonomy in shaping modern workplace safety behaviors. Based on these results, several managerial prescriptions and theoretical implications are rendered, and future research directions are highlighted.