Digital harassment (cyberbullying)

Digital harassment and abuse refers to a range of harmful, interpersonal behaviours experienced via the internet, as well as via mobile phone and other electronic communication devices (Powell et al., 2018).

 

Roomminister’s found this interesting and helpful for you or HR department to handle with any harassment you may encounter.

While many organizations have formal policies on reporting workplace harassment, others may not. Employees’d take the following steps in these nonviolent situations: (Schooley, 2020)

 

1. Try to resolve the issue with the harasser in a calm manner. Ask them, preferably in a private setting, to stop directing this behavior at you. However, if the abuse is physical, do not approach your harasser.

 

2. Consider escalating the issue to your immediate manager – unless, of course, your manager is the perpetrator. Bring the issue to the attention of HR if your attempts to resolve it with the harasser fail. If you can, provide evidence such as screenshots, texts, messages and eyewitness accounts.

 

3. If you feel that your managers, HR and company management did not deal with your case satisfactorily, get in touch with the EEOC, which can investigate the incident impartially. Some large municipalities and metro areas, like New York City, have their own laws and agencies regulating workplace conduct, in which case a victim may make a claim through that municipality.