How Is Bullying Shown In The Workplace
Essay
Cyberbullying: The power of social networking
Social networks are good for press freedom:
Social networking sites have created an open space for cyberbullying to occur within the workplace, becoming a particularly vulnerable and often not addressed issue. Cyberbullying is a cruel weapon of bullying which is repeated psychological behaviour that involves the misuse of power by an individual towards a person. Focusing on cyberbullying in the workplace, there are countless effects it can have towards the victims future.
Social networking has made it much easier for bullying to occur in the workplace.
“The rise of technology in the workplace has an unfortunate side effect: the potential for threatening behaviour between individuals”. (Kubicek, 2008) With the range of popular social …show more content…
networking tools readily available such as e-mailing, text messaging and social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube or Twitter, temptation is present to use it during work hours. Whilst surfing the network is now almost part of everyone’s day-to-day routine, it also provides an opportunity for cyberbullying to occur. In reality, there is no way of avoiding the rise of technology and makes it much easier for bullying to take place, without the need of physical interaction.
“Bullies usually utilise power attributed to their status, skills, or position in the workplace”. (Healey, 2011) Workplace bullying can occur at any level with an organisation, both between an employee and a supervisor or manager, or between co-employees. Social network bullying can range from intimidation, offensive language, spreading malicious rumours, being uninformed and undermining work performance by deliberately withholding information vital for effective work performance. The awareness of cyberbullying in the workplace is being critically ignored.
“It must be clearly communicated to employees what it is, how to recognize it and what to do when confronted with it”. (Cyber-Bullying: A Silent Epidemic in the Workplace, 2011) Just like other forms of harassment, cyberbullying is being critically ignored. It is common knowledge that one way or another, employees have experienced some kind of cyberbullying and were unsure in how to deal with it. Unfortunately, employers often overlook the problem in hope that it will fade out.
"Until everyone is clear about exactly what is and isn 't acceptable online behaviour, trying to enforce policies will just fail, leaving the door open to cyberbullying and invasion of privacy”. (Acohido, 2013) With the knowledge of cyberbullying being critically ignored, it can lead to severe consequences for the workplaces’ reputation. Some workplaces are failing to promote policy acts on cyberbullying making it an unpleasant working environment. Without guidance and leadership on the issue, employees who are victims of this tragedy will retain from work responsibilities and deadlines, resulting in a severe workplace blunder. The psychological effects.
“Even though it may not take place in person, the emotional and psychological effects of cyber-bullying are just as destructive”. (Cyber-Bullying and its Effect on our Youth, 2012) Cyberbullying is just like traditional bullying. It can create numerous psychological effects consistent of traumatic stress, sensitiveness and vulnerability, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia and the constant sense of feeling ashamed and humiliated. Cyberbullying creates mental health problems, which can affect the inability to express pain and to seek help. “There are major effects on productivity because people experiencing bullying are not working as efficiently”. (Bullying and Harassment, 2006)The psychological damage can trigger major effects on work performance through acts of demotivation, reduced concentration, paid sick leave and low morale. This behaviour then escalates to other activities in life such as smoking, excessive drinking, and avoidance in extra-curricular activities.
Counter-argument
“In order to reduce its prevalence, we need to focus on changing the system rather than the individuals within it”.
(Monks et al., 2009) It is recognised that different workplaces have different views of acceptable behaviour. Employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Workplaces need to keep pace with technological advances and update and enforce a bullying policy act. For the victims, they must release and regulate those feelings by telling somebody they can trust or speak to a psychologist about the symptoms they are experiencing. Certain features of networking sites provide the option of blocking individuals from mutual contact and are a way of combating the issue, as well as reporting the situation to authority.
Conclusion
Social networking sites have created an open space for cyberbullying to occur within the workplace, becoming a particularly vulnerable and often not addressed issue. It is clear that cyberbullying is not limited and the consequences can be far-reaching and permanently damage the psyche of victims. Remember, it is possible to combat this new and dangerous strain of
bullying.
References
Journal Article:
Acohido, B. (2013). Cyberbullies creep into workplace: More adults targeted on social media. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bond.edu.au/docview/1288864237
Kubicek, M. (2008). Virtual Flights, 18-20. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bond.edu.au/docview/229913530
Monks, C., Smith, P., Naylor, P., Barter, C., Ireland, J., Coyne, I. et al (2009). Bullying in different contexts: Commonalities, differences and the role of theory. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 14, 146-156. Doi:10.1016/j.avb.2009.01.004
Websites:
Cyber-Bullying and its Effect on our Youth. (2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/cyber-bullying.aspx
Cyberbullying: A Silent Epidemic in the Workplace. (2011). Retrieve February 25, 2013, from http://www.lanierupshaw.com/cyber-bullying-a-silent-epidemic-in-the-workplace/ Books:
Healy, J. (2011). Workplace bullying: Good practice, good business. Dealing with Bullying. 39. NSW: The Spinney Press.
Healy, J. (2006). Impact of bullying on organisations. Bullying and Harassment. 32. NSW: The Spinney Press.
Cyberbullying: The power of social networking
Social networks are good for press freedom:
Social networking sites have created an open space for cyberbullying to occur within the workplace, becoming a particularly vulnerable and often not addressed issue. Cyberbullying is a cruel weapon of bullying which is repeated psychological behaviour that involves the misuse of power by an individual towards a person. Focusing on cyberbullying in the workplace, there are countless effects it can have towards the victims future.
Social networking has made it much easier for bullying to occur in the workplace.
“The rise of technology in the workplace has an unfortunate side effect: the potential for threatening behaviour between individuals”. (Kubicek, 2008) With the range of popular social …show more content…
networking tools readily available such as e-mailing, text messaging and social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube or Twitter, temptation is present to use it during work hours. Whilst surfing the network is now almost part of everyone’s day-to-day routine, it also provides an opportunity for cyberbullying to occur. In reality, there is no way of avoiding the rise of technology and makes it much easier for bullying to take place, without the need of physical interaction.
“Bullies usually utilise power attributed to their status, skills, or position in the workplace”. (Healey, 2011) Workplace bullying can occur at any level with an organisation, both between an employee and a supervisor or manager, or between co-employees. Social network bullying can range from intimidation, offensive language, spreading malicious rumours, being uninformed and undermining work performance by deliberately withholding information vital for effective work performance. The awareness of cyberbullying in the workplace is being critically ignored.
“It must be clearly communicated to employees what it is, how to recognize it and what to do when confronted with it”. (Cyber-Bullying: A Silent Epidemic in the Workplace, 2011) Just like other forms of harassment, cyberbullying is being critically ignored. It is common knowledge that one way or another, employees have experienced some kind of cyberbullying and were unsure in how to deal with it. Unfortunately, employers often overlook the problem in hope that it will fade out.
"Until everyone is clear about exactly what is and isn 't acceptable online behaviour, trying to enforce policies will just fail, leaving the door open to cyberbullying and invasion of privacy”. (Acohido, 2013) With the knowledge of cyberbullying being critically ignored, it can lead to severe consequences for the workplaces’ reputation. Some workplaces are failing to promote policy acts on cyberbullying making it an unpleasant working environment. Without guidance and leadership on the issue, employees who are victims of this tragedy will retain from work responsibilities and deadlines, resulting in a severe workplace blunder. The psychological effects.
“Even though it may not take place in person, the emotional and psychological effects of cyber-bullying are just as destructive”. (Cyber-Bullying and its Effect on our Youth, 2012) Cyberbullying is just like traditional bullying. It can create numerous psychological effects consistent of traumatic stress, sensitiveness and vulnerability, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia and the constant sense of feeling ashamed and humiliated. Cyberbullying creates mental health problems, which can affect the inability to express pain and to seek help. “There are major effects on productivity because people experiencing bullying are not working as efficiently”. (Bullying and Harassment, 2006)The psychological damage can trigger major effects on work performance through acts of demotivation, reduced concentration, paid sick leave and low morale. This behaviour then escalates to other activities in life such as smoking, excessive drinking, and avoidance in extra-curricular activities.
Counter-argument
“In order to reduce its prevalence, we need to focus on changing the system rather than the individuals within it”.
(Monks et al., 2009) It is recognised that different workplaces have different views of acceptable behaviour. Employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Workplaces need to keep pace with technological advances and update and enforce a bullying policy act. For the victims, they must release and regulate those feelings by telling somebody they can trust or speak to a psychologist about the symptoms they are experiencing. Certain features of networking sites provide the option of blocking individuals from mutual contact and are a way of combating the issue, as well as reporting the situation to authority.
Conclusion
Social networking sites have created an open space for cyberbullying to occur within the workplace, becoming a particularly vulnerable and often not addressed issue. It is clear that cyberbullying is not limited and the consequences can be far-reaching and permanently damage the psyche of victims. Remember, it is possible to combat this new and dangerous strain of
bullying.
References
Journal Article:
Acohido, B. (2013). Cyberbullies creep into workplace: More adults targeted on social media. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bond.edu.au/docview/1288864237
Kubicek, M. (2008). Virtual Flights, 18-20. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bond.edu.au/docview/229913530
Monks, C., Smith, P., Naylor, P., Barter, C., Ireland, J., Coyne, I. et al (2009). Bullying in different contexts: Commonalities, differences and the role of theory. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 14, 146-156. Doi:10.1016/j.avb.2009.01.004
Websites:
Cyber-Bullying and its Effect on our Youth. (2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/cyber-bullying.aspx
Cyberbullying: A Silent Epidemic in the Workplace. (2011). Retrieve February 25, 2013, from http://www.lanierupshaw.com/cyber-bullying-a-silent-epidemic-in-the-workplace/ Books:
Healy, J. (2011). Workplace bullying: Good practice, good business. Dealing with Bullying. 39. NSW: The Spinney Press.
Healy, J. (2006). Impact of bullying on organisations. Bullying and Harassment. 32. NSW: The Spinney Press.