Workplace Cyberbullying

“Hey, good job on the presentation…you did surprisingly well.” “Why do you always dress like a granny?” “You need to do it as I told you!” “You’re useless!” “It’s your fault the project failed!” If you were playing the game show Jeopardy, these comments would fit nicely into a category titled “Examples of what a bully might say.” Disturbingly, a 2021 Workplace Bullying Survey reported that 79.3 million U.S. workers were impacted by bullying.  

What do we mean when we say someone is a bully? We typically think of someone who yells, screams, and intimidates others, perhaps like Chef Gordon Ramsey’s persona. But according to Forbes, bullying presents itself in many forms. It can include misgendering someone, humiliation, blocking a promotion or advancement, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, setting unrealistic expectations to set someone up for failure, or spreading harmful rumors. 

When the pandemic compelled companies to rely on remote work on an unprecedented scale, cyberbullying appeared to soar. New avenues became available for cyberbullying, primarily through video calls, chats, and email. Likewise, victims reported experiencing or witnessing mistreatment during online meetings. The majority of the mistreatment happened publicly in front of others. This is equivalent to being berated at a staff meeting where perpetrators magnify humiliation by performing with an audience of the victim’s co-workers. Conversely, mistreatment by email was on a much smaller scale, perhaps due to a fear of leaving a paper trail. 

Cyberbullies also use social media networks to post threatening or offensive content, comment about a co-worker’s performance at work and spread lies or gossip online. Likewise, they may send offensive emails to a co-worker, including offensive pictures, insults, personal threats, intimidation, or sexual harassment. They often continue to send such emails even after being asked to stop. They inflict verbal abuse through phone calls or video chats. They withhold work-related information, post unwanted photos of colleagues on social media, and socially exclude the targeted individual.  

 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) feels the relative anonymity of the Internet is appealing to bullies because it enhances intimidation and makes tracing the activity more difficult. Some bullies find it easier to be more vicious because there’s no personal contact. The Internet and email can also increase the visibility of the activity. Information or pictures posted online or forwarded in mass emails can reach a larger audience faster than traditional methods, causing more damage to the victim.  

Of significance is the fact that cyberbullying may also indicate a tendency toward more serious behavior. For example, there’s evidence that it may be an early warning sign of someone on a pathway to violence. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health classifies workplace bullying as one form of Workplace Violence, which ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. 

So, without question, bullying can leave a lasting impact on victims and is harmful to the targeted individual and the organization. In addition, companies can incur financial loss from legal costs and investigations; decreased productivity and morale; increased employee absences and/or turnover; and reduced employee trust, effort, and loyalty. 

In sum, by trivializing or ignoring bullying, it serves to reinforce tolerance in the workplace.  

October is Bullying Prevention Month…it’s time to take a stand against bullying.