Cyberbullying in the Workplace

Introduction

Technology has become the most valuable means to communicate within the contemporary workplace. The reliance on technology is increasing as it shapes the success of modern firms. Emails, messenger, cellular phones, and social media use have extended the interconnectedness among employees beyond the traditional ‘brick and mortar’ business environment. The advent of the internet has created a new communication tool that has, in many ways, positively revolutionized the interconnectedness of societies and business operations around the globe. As of March 2019, there is an estimated four billion, three hundred and eighty-three million internet users worldwide (Internet World Stats, 2019). In this technological age, however, there is the blurring of boundaries between personal space and workspace as the internet is a potential threat for cyber abuse, and the proliferation of the workplace stressor of cyberbullying. With the internet and modern communication devices, new forms of harassing behaviours have emerged where the target is subjected to online abusive behaviour even after leaving the workplace. Using technology to communicate may be described as a ‘double-edged sword’ where the increased reliance and dependence for high tech communication decreases the courteous interactions among persons. The erosive effect on interpersonal exchanges can give rise to workplace cyberbullying: an escalating process in which an employee is subjected to perceived psychological abuse recurring over a period of time where the perpetrator uses some form of technology.

For the past thirty years, organizational researchers have become increasingly interested in the dark side of management and employee behaviours, with extensive research being conducted on offline workplace bullying (henceforth referred to as traditional bullying). The increasing interest in this phenomenon has considerably advanced understanding in a relatively short space of time (Nielsen & Einarsen, 2018). Feeling trapped, frustrated, threatened, verbally abused, ignored, isolated, and mentally hurt are all common descriptors used by workers in explaining their employment situations and can be summated as ‘domestic violence at work, where the abuser is on the payroll’. The issue of workplace cyberbullying is gaining increasing attention as workplace bullying is no longer confined to the traditional face-to-face work environment but has evolved with the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution. There is the alteration of the social rules that govern the workplace with the co-occurrence of traditional bullying and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is not restrained by time, tools, or location, as ‘work’ is no longer a well-defined activity with sharp boundaries. The blurring of boundaries of work, technology, social media, and mobile platforms are modifying the workplace landscape. From a human resources perspective, it is therefore imperative to consider the working context within which cyberbullying occurs.

The objectives of this chapter are to:

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  Describe the key elements of cyberbullying.

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  Explain the difference between traditional bullying and cyberbullying.

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  Highlight the main consequences of workplace cyberbullying on the target and on the organization.

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  Suggest practical approaches organizations can adopt to prevent and address cyberbullying at work.

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  Identify areas for future research on workplace cyberbullying.

Background

The workplace has drastically been altered where employees are able to work remotely and connect with colleagues around the world. This interconnectedness is increasing the susceptibility of employees to online abusive interpersonal behaviours referred to as cyber abuse. These behaviours include cyber stalking, cyber bullying, sexual solicitation, and exposure to phonographic material (Mishna, Cook, Saini, Wu, & MacFadden, 2011). One form of cyber abuse in the workplace is ‘cyberbullying’ or ‘cyber-harassment’, by superiors, co-workers, and subordinates. Cyberbullying incorporates the use of a technological form of communication as the means through which a person is harassed, threatened, or abused. Research on cyberbullying and its consequences have focused on school children and adolescents, while the effects on adults in the workplace are now attracting the attention of scholars.