The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a campaign focusing on digital harassment in the workplace, designed to guide companies in managing digital harassment among their employees. It is about having clear guidelines and a solid plan for handling situations and ensuring a safe working environment for all.

Work-related digital harassment, also known as cyber harassment or digital harassment in the workplace, consists of negative behavior patterns that occur through digital media in a work context. Digital harassment in the workplace includes threatening emails, bullying via social media, spreading rumors, unwanted sharing of personal information online, as well as creating fake profiles or identity theft. It involves general intimidating or demeaning communication via digital channels.

A new study conducted by the National Surveillance of Occupational Health among Employees (NOA-L) shows that approximately 28 percent of employees who have experienced harassment from customers, patients, students, clients, or relatives in the past 12 months have primarily experienced harassment via social media, phone, SMS, email, or by letter.

Consequences of work-related digital harassment

It is the employer's responsibility to prevent work-related digital harassment. It is crucial to take preventive steps, as it not only affects employees during work hours but can also extend to weekends and holidays, occurring through digital media. The consequences of digital harassment affect not only the individual employee but can also impact the entire organization if multiple employees are affected by the consequences of work-related digital harassment, such as sleep disturbances, decreased self-esteem, stress, poor well-being, increased absenteeism, and ultimately a higher number of resignations.

It is essential for employers to take responsibility for preventing and handling such situations by implementing clear guidelines and procedures that prevent and manage digital harassment in the workplace.

The purpose of the campaign

With this campaign, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has chosen to focus on work-related digital harassment with the aim of assisting employers in preventing and effectively addressing harassment. The main message of the campaign is to tell employees that they are not alone with their problems, whether the harassment occurs during or outside of working hours. The campaign emphasizes that digital harassment in the workplace can be prevented by:

• Creating a common understanding among employees of what digital harassment in the workplace entails.

• Having clear guidelines on how the workplace manages work-related digital harassment.

• Developing preventive measures and informing employees about them.

• Ensuring that all employees know how to document digital harassment.

• Assessing the degree and nature of digital harassment.