The
aim of this work is to provide insight into the process of employee recovery
and well-being in regard to work-related ICT use during after-hours. Therefore,
we discuss (1) theories that help us to understand the determinants and
outcomes of this behavior, (2) our core concepts recovery and well-being, and
(3) previous empirical findings on ICT use after hours for work purposes. On
the basis of literature review, we propose a new conceptual overall framework
of ICT use after hours for work purposes with the focus on employee recovery
and well-being processes. Thereby, we posit ICT use after hours for work
purposes as potential stressor, resource, or demand (see action theory by
Hacker, 1998, 2003; Frese and Zapf 1994), depending on many personal and environmental
factors, but primarily on cognitive appraisals (see transactional model of
stress by Lazarus and Folkman 1984). This three-way division enables us to
propose various linear and non-linear associations to focused outcomes. We
conclude with an overall discussion on further research concerning the
identified research gaps.