Employers can combat the growing phenomenon of work-related cyberbullying by training workers to be more optimistic and resilient, as well as training them in email etiquette, Australian researchers say.
They say employers should introduce a zero-tolerance policy that clarifies what cyberbullying is, the organisation's position on the issue, and consequences and penalties for participating in cyberbullying.
According to the Edith Cowan University researchers, cyberbullying is usually defined as "an intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic form of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself".
They say one recent study of 4000 workers from 10 countries found most believed sending offensive or aggressive remarks via digital media constituted cyberbullying, and that:
- 53 per cent of participants felt social media "had eroded privacy within the workplace";
- 11 per cent said embarrassing photos or videos of them at a work-related social event had been posted online;
- nine per cent had experienced aggressive or offensive behaviour online by a colleague; and
- nearly 10 per cent said a manager had used information from social media against them or they had witnessed a manager using such information against a colleague.
Cyberbullying negatively affects workers' psychological and physical wellbeing, and their levels of job satisfaction and stress are adversely affected as a result, the researchers say.
They say their study of 146 white-collar Australian workers identified a significant positive relationship between cyberbullying and stress.
They found cyberbullying is negatively related to optimism (the general expectation of a favourable and positive outcome), and optimism is negatively related to stress.
"These findings were consistent with the theory that more optimistic individuals expect outcomes that are positive and favourable in any given situation. As a result, optimistic individuals tend to be less affected by stress and to be satisfied with their lives," they say.
The researchers say the main purpose of the study was to determine whether optimism mediates the relationship between cyberbullying and stress and cyberbullying and job satisfaction.
They found being optimistic partially mediates the negative effects of cyberbullying on stress and job satisfaction, which illustrates the importance of developing a cyberbullying policy and training employees "to become resilient and optimistic workers".
"It is highly beneficial for organisations and employers to set up training programs that can detect and manage stress by increasing the awareness and an individual's ability to cope with stressful situations," the researchers say.
"This approach will improve the adaptability of the individual to stressful environments whilst at the same time reduce the severity of symptoms before they lead to serious psychological injury.
"Finally, it is important for employers to provide staff training in professional etiquette and the appropriate use of email or other communication tools within the workplace.
"This is especially important considering that the digital age of interaction and communication is here to stay."
Cyberbullying at work: The mediating role of optimism between cyberbullying and job outcomes. Robyn Snyman, et al, Australia, Computers in Human Behaviour, Volume 53 (in progress), December 2015.
