Cyberharassment in the workplace refers to harassment through digital communications. One of its distinctive characteristics lies in its occurrence remotely and in written form, which often leaves room for interpretation.
Although not exhaustive, here are some examples of behaviors that may constitute cyberharassment:
· Sending aggressive, threatening, intimidating, or degrading messages viaemail, Teams, Slack, or other platforms;
· Deliberately and repeatedly ignoring a colleague’s messages;
· Overloading an employee with an excessive number of electronic messages;
· Persistently contacting an employee through multiple platforms;
· Sharing unfavorable, humiliating, or confidential content about an employee;
· Isolating or excluding a team member through digital communications;
· Excessively monitoring online connections or availability.
Certain situations can increase the risk of digital conflicts or cyberharassment in the workplace. Identifying and understanding these factors helps in developing an appropriate action plan. In remote work, this may include:
· Increased social and professional distance, making it harder to detectrisky behaviors;
· Greater potential for misinterpretation of written interactions;
· A decline in politeness or self-censorship in exchanges;
· Difficulty in establishing and respecting boundaries betweenprofessional and personal spheres.
To protect your organization and employees, here are some practices you can implement:
· Review your policies: Clearly define what constitutes cyberharassment, outline expected behaviors in remote work, and specify reporting or complaint mechanisms;
· Train and raise awareness among employees: Educate employees on best communication practices and the risks associated with digital interactions;
· Equip managers: Provide resources to identify, prevent, and manage remote conflicts;
· Promote connection and team cohesion: Organizediscussion sessions and collaborative activities to strengthen relationships, encourage communication, and foster positive interactions.
At Neutra, we help companies in preventing and managing workplace cyberharassment by offering tailored solutions to protect both employees and organizations.
