During her important weekly Zoom meeting, Julie noticed something quite disturbing. Her screen was filled with comments like “You talk like a parrot”, and “Your presentation is so basic” directed at her presentation and speaking style from an anonymous user. This was not the first time. For quite some time, she has been receiving hate emails mocking her work and her recent promotion. The endless trolling and messages are taking a toll on her mental health and are also having an adverse effect on her job productivity.
Unfortunately, we come across many Julies in today’s digital modern workplaces.
As remote work is becoming increasingly common, it is essential to understand the various types of harassment that can happen virtually and ways to tackle them.
Types of virtual harassment
Virtual harassment at the workplace is taking various forms and causing significant psychological harm to employees. According to an International Labour Organisation survey, more than one in five people worldwide experienced violence and harassment at work out of which 38% experienced harassment remotely, through email, video conferencing, chat apps or by phone.
Cyberbullying
This involves the usage of electronic communication and devices to intimidate and bully coworkers. Cyberbullying can happen through email, video calls, slack, social media and other instant messaging platforms.
Employees might be targeted by spreading rumours and false allegations against them. The anonymity provided by the internet often gives an opportunity for the perpetrators to indulge in bullying with very little chance given to the victims to identify the perpetrators and report them. Julie’s experience of receiving hate emails mocking her work can be seen as a form of cyberbullying at the workplace.
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is perpetrated by sending targeted messages using digital or electronic media with the intention of causing harm or intimidating a victim. It also involves the unwanted monitoring of someone’s online activities.
In workplaces, cyberstalking can look quite different. It can look like constantly tracking a colleague’s social media account, emails or any form of digital footprint a person is able to access. This form of harassment can be particularly complex as it blurs the lines between personal and professional life, leaving the victim feeling constantly watched and vulnerable.
Doxxing
This involves openly or publicly revealing sensitive private information of a person without their consent. Doxxing is often done with the intention of embarrassing or humiliating another individual.
In the workplace, this can involve leaking personal details like an employee’s home addresses, phone numbers, or sensitive information about their personal life online. Doxxing not only violates privacy but can also lead to physical threats and emotional distress. It can escalate quickly, impacting not just the victim but their family and friends as well.
Harassment in virtual meetings
Virtual meetings often present ample opportunities for harassment.
This can range from inappropriate comments in chat boxes to disruptive behaviour such as using offensive backgrounds or deliberately interrupting speakers and making fun of their opinions. Julie’s experience during her presentation was a form of harassment during virtual meetings. Such actions can undermine the professionalism of the meeting and create a hostile environment.
How does virtual harassment impact a workplace?
Virtual harassment at the workplace has a negative impact on employees and the organisation as a whole. Employees who are subjected to virtual harassment often experience increased levels of stress and anxiety which results in a decline in job productivity and job satisfaction.
Unchecked forms of virtual harassment can also cause damage to an organisation’s reputation, high attrition rates and difficulty in attracting new employees among other difficulties. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly half of the employees (49%) have thought about leaving their current organisation due to experiences of harassment, while nearly one in five have left a job due to the toxic culture in the past five years.
Addressing virtual harassment
Given the significant impact virtual harassment can have, it is important for organisations to put policies and practices in place to ensure measures are taken to protect employees. Some ways this can be done are:
- Establishing and communicating policies to curb virtual harassment with stringent punitive measures.
- Conducting regular sensitisation training programs on virtual harassment, its impact on the workforce and prevention mechanisms.
- Creating a safe and confidential system for reporting virtual harassment and ensuring it is accessible to employees of all levels.
- Setting up committees to investigate complaints thoroughly and impartially, and implement appropriate disciplinary measures.
- Promoting a culture of respect, inclusion, and empathy, encouraging employees to support and speak out against harassment.
Julie’s story is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of workplace harassment. As our professional lives increasingly intertwine with digital platforms so should our efforts to ensure these spaces are safe and inclusive for all.