Workplace Cyberbullying

Abstract

Technology has changed the modern work environment. In contemporary workplaces, employees can communicate from anywhere in the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week through email, corporate social media, text messages, blogs, etc. In general, this increased communication access supports productivity, but in some circumstances, the increased employee to employee access presents troubling outcomes. One such troubling outcome is the rise of cyberbullying and harassment in the workplace. In fact, research indicates that the number of individuals experiencing cyberbullying in the workplace is on the rise. With increased virtual incivilities, organizations must create strategies to protect the employees and organizational efficiencies. With these goals in mind, the following chapter will examine the importance of creating a clear organizational definition of cyberbullying, the organizational consequences of allowing cyberbullying to continue and solutions organizations can implement to create a positive work environment that is free from cyberbullying.