Written by When folks began working from home during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, it looked like an improvement. Most enjoyed having the liberty, convenience, and improved work-life balance. Working from home, however, created a new issue: online harassment. This type of harassment doesn’t occur face-to-face. It occurs online—via emails, chat applications, video conferences, and other digital tools people use to work from home. It’s less visible, but can be just as damaging. What Is Digital Harassment? Digital harassment is when a person is bullied, disrespected, or made to feel uneasy through digital technologies. This can include: Why It’s Worse with Remote Work Working remotely has altered the way people communicate. There are no personal meetings, and individuals work in their own space. Here’s why digital harassment is more prevalent: Real-Life Effects A 2022 report by Project Include stated that 1 out of every 4 employees was harassed on the job while remote. These numbers were even greater for women, LGBTQ+, and those of color. They felt isolated, afraid to say something, and not sure that anyone would believe them. For instance, one woman said a colleague kept messaging her late at night and complimented her appearance during Zoom sessions. When she reported the incidents to Human Resources (HR), they did not take it seriously and instructed her to switch off the camera. Why Companies Struggle Most companies were not prepared for this new type of issue. Their policies regarding harassment did not extend to online conduct. Additionally, HR departments generally lack the means to investigate cyber crimes, particularly if the messages are private. A lot of people also don’t think that digital harassment is important. Since it’s not face-to-face, some do not think it’s serious—even though it can be really disturbing. How to Make Remote Work Safer To solve this issue, businesses must get busy and think: Remote work is here to stay, so businesses need to get serious about digital harassment. They shouldn’t wait for issues to occur. They should be proactive and prevent them from happening. Harassment is not merely rule-breaking—it’s about making someone feel unsafe and unwanted. Businesses that care about their employees need to make a safe digital environment for everyone. When the computer is in the office, safety needs to be part of the link. Keep reading Formaz for your daily dose of moral support.
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