Get in touch
Cyberbullying at Work: The Impacts, Signs & How to Deal With It
Google Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Work should be a place where you feel valued, respected, and safe. But what happens when bullying follows you beyond the office walls—into emails, group chats, or even social media?
Cyberbullying at work is a growing issue, affecting people across industries and seniority levels. According to UNISON, 80% of employees in the UK have dealt with some form of cyber-bullying. In fact, nearly one in five experiences cyber-abuse at least once a week.
Unlike traditional workplace bullying, it can be harder to spot and even more difficult to escape, making it incredibly stressful for those on the receiving end.
If you’ve noticed tension in your team, a drop in engagement, or an employee who seems withdrawn, cyberbullying might be a factor. At PMAC we understand how damaging a toxic work environment—whether in person or online—can be, and we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll outline the real effects of cyberbullying at work, the signs managers should be aware of, and practical steps you can take to address the issue. A healthy team starts with a healthy workplace—both online and offline.
What is Cyberbullying?
With the growth of technology, it’s no surprise that bullying has found its way into the digital world. Cyberbullying at work happens when someone uses emails, messages, or online platforms to harass or intimidate a colleague. Since we live in an era of constant communication, it can happen anytime, making it harder to switch off and get a break from it.
This can look like sending nasty messages, spreading false rumours, leaving people out of group chats, or publicly shaming someone on professional platforms. It can also involve sharing private information without permission, which can be quite embarrassing and damaging.
Sometimes, cyberbullying is obvious—like direct insults or aggressive emails. Other times, it’s more subtle. Passive-aggressive comments, constant micromanaging through digital tools, or deliberately ignoring messages can also create a toxic work environment.
Because it happens online, people may feel bolder saying things they wouldn’t in person. This can leave employees feeling anxious, stressed, and unsure of how to respond.
Why Should Workplaces Care?
If you’re fortunate to be part of a friendly and relaxed team, it might be hard to imagine just how big of an issue workplace bullying can be in UK businesses. But this problem goes far beyond simple playground gossip—it’s a serious concern in the corporate world that deserves attention.
Let’s take a look at reasons why workplaces need to stay vigilant:
- Employee Wellbeing : Cyberbullying can leave people feeling anxious, stressed, and even depressed. Imagine dreading opening your inbox every morning because you know there’s going to be another harsh message or a sarcastic comment in the team chat. Over time, this can drain motivation and make work unbearable.
- Productivity and Performance: People do their best work when they feel safe and respected. If someone is constantly dealing with online harassment, they’re going to struggle to focus, share ideas, or collaborate with colleagues. A toxic work environment—digital or not—hurts the whole team.
- Retention and Recruitment: If employees feel unsupported, they’ll leave. It’s that simple. A company that ignores cyberbullying risks losing talented staff and spending more on hiring and training replacements.
- Legal and Reputational Risks : No business wants to be known for a toxic culture. Ignoring cyberbullying can lead to formal complaints, legal action, and a damaged reputation. Employers have a responsibility to keep their workplace safe—including online spaces.
- Remote and Hybrid Work Challenges: With so many people working remotely, a lot of workplace interactions now happen online. That makes it easier for bullying to slip under the radar. Without face-to-face cues, someone’s hurtful messages or exclusionary behaviour might go unnoticed. That’s why clear policies and reporting systems are more important than ever.
- Workplace Culture: If cyberbullying is left unchecked, it can create a culture of fear and mistrust. People won’t speak up, share ideas, or feel like they belong. A respectful, supportive workplace starts with holding people accountable for their online behaviour.
What Does Cyberbullying at Work Look Like?
Cyber-bullying brings a unique challenge compared to more traditional forms of abuse: it’s not limited by time or place. Thanks to the always “on” nature of mobile technology, victims can struggle to find a break from the constant stream of abuse – even outside of work hours.
Social networks, while great for connecting people and even helping employers with recruitment, can unfortunately also become a public stage for bullying. This means victims often have little control over who might witness the hurtful behaviour they’d prefer to keep private.
Cyberbullying Within Work Platforms
Cyberbullying at work isn’t just happening over email or social media anymore. With so many teams relying on platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and instant messaging to communicate, online harassment has become harder to spot—but just as damaging.
Here are some ways it can show up:
- Exclusion and Isolation: Someone might be deliberately left out of important group chats, meetings, or shared workspaces. This can make them feel isolated and even limit their ability to do their job properly.
- Hostile Messages: Aggressive, sarcastic, or belittling comments in team chats or private messages can quickly turn a workplace toxic. Public humiliation in group channels can be especially damaging.
- Excessive Monitoring: Some platforms let managers track online status, message response times, and activity. If used unfairly, this can feel like constant surveillance, making employees anxious and on edge.
- Spreading Rumours: Workplace chat platforms make it easy for false or harmful information to spread fast, damaging reputations and causing stress.
- Passive-Aggressive Emojis and GIFs: It might sound minor, but the way emojis, memes, or GIFs are used can be hurtful. A sarcastic emoji or a mocking GIF can send a clear message that someone isn’t respected or valued.
- Ignoring or Ghosting: Deliberately ignoring messages or delaying responses as a way to undermine a colleague can create a hostile work environment. It’s a subtle but powerful way of making someone feel unimportant.
As a manager, you set the tone for how workplace platforms are used. Be clear about your expectations, address toxic behavior when you see it, and make sure your team has a safe way to report any issues. By doing this, you can help keep online interactions respectful and professional.
Cyberbullying Outside of Work
Workplace cyberbullying doesn’t always stop when the workday ends. Harassment through social media, messaging apps, or personal emails can spill into employees’ personal lives—making it even harder to escape. And even if it happens outside of work, it can still have a big impact on how someone feels and performs in their job.
Here’s how it can happen:
- Social Media Harassment: A colleague might post negative comments, spread rumours, or publicly humiliate someone on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. This kind of behaviour can make workplace interactions awkward and uncomfortable.
- Group Chats and Private Messages: WhatsApp groups or private chats can be used to gossip, exclude, or intimidate someone outside of work hours. What might seem like a “harmless” joke to some can leave others feeling isolated and anxious.
- Doxxing and Exposure: Sharing personal information, private conversations, or screenshots without consent can cause embarrassment and distress—making it hard for someone to feel safe or focused at work.
- Constant Contact and Pressure: Late-night messages, excessive check-ins, or digital monitoring from managers or colleagues can blur boundaries and add to stress, leaving employees feeling like they can never switch off.
- Cyberstalking and Threats: Keeping tabs on a colleague’s online activity, sending unwanted messages, or making intimidating comments can create fear and anxiety that carries over into the workplace.
The effects of this kind of harassment can be serious:
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Trouble concentrating and lower productivity
- Tension between colleagues and workplace conflict
- More sick days or absences because of mental health struggles
- Formal complaints or legal action
Even when it happens outside work hours, cyberbullying affects workplace culture, morale, and overall wellbeing. That’s why it’s important for managers to take it seriously and create a workplace where employees feel safe—on and off the clock.
How to Spot Signs of Cyberbullying in Your Team
When someone is being targeted at work, it isn’t always obvious. Because it happens behind screens—often in private chats or emails—it can go unnoticed for a long time. Some employees will speak up if there’s a problem, but others might suffer in silence. That’s why it’s important to recognise the signs early so you can step in before things get worse.
Here’s what to look out for:
Behavioural Changes
- Avoiding team discussions, virtual meetings, or social events
- Steering clear of certain colleagues or group chats
- Holding back in meetings, seeming less confident, or hesitating to share ideas
- Unexplained mood swings, irritability, or visible distress after reading messages
Work Performance
- More mistakes, missed deadlines, or struggling to focus
- Finding it hard to make decisions or get through tasks
- A noticeable drop in productivity, even though they used to perform well
- Losing enthusiasm for work or avoiding responsibilities
Physical and Emotional Signs
- Taking more sick days without a clear reason
- Showing signs of stress or burnout—like constant fatigue or trouble sleeping
- Complaining about headaches, nausea, or other stress-related symptoms
- Visibly upset after checking emails or instant messages
Digital Red Flags
- Complaints about excessive or inappropriate messages from colleagues
- Avoiding workplace tools like Slack or Teams
- Being left out of important emails, group chats, or meetings without reason
- Reports of online gossip, passive-aggressive messages, or exclusion
How to Support an Employee Facing Cyberbullying
If an employee comes to you about cyberbullying, how you handle it can make a big difference. A supportive response helps them feel heard, safe, and respected. Here’s what you can do:
- Listen and Let Them Talk: Give them space to share their experience without interrupting. Show empathy, acknowledge their feelings, and take their concerns seriously. Brushing it off could make them hesitant to speak up again.
- Reassure Them: Let them know they’re not alone and that the company takes this seriously. Stay calm and supportive. You don’t need to have all the answers right away—just listening first can help.
- Keep It Confidential: Many employees worry about backlash or damage to their reputation. Only involve the necessary people and reassure them that their concerns will be handled carefully.
- Encourage Them to Keep Records: Ask them to save messages, emails, or screenshots of any incidents. Having clear examples can make it easier to address the problem.
- Explain Their Reporting Options: Make sure they know how to report the issue formally if they want to. Offer to guide them through the process so they feel supported.
- Check In on Them: Cyberbullying can take a pretty negative toll on mental health. Follow up to see how they’re doing and offer any resources available.
- Take Action Quickly: Address the issue as soon as possible to show that online harassment won’t be ignored.
Your response can shape how they feel about their job and workplace. Taking cyberbullying seriously builds trust and helps create a culture where employees feel supported and valued.
What Should You Do if You Witness Cyberbullying at Work?
If you see someone being targeted online at work, stepping in can make a real difference. Here’s how you can help:
- Offer Support: A private message to the person affected can go a long way. Let them know they’re not alone and that what’s happening isn’t okay. Listening without judgment can encourage them to seek help.
- Keep a Record: Save screenshots, emails, or chat logs that show what’s happening. Having clear evidence can help if formal action is needed.
- Report It: If your workplace has a reporting process, use it. You can raise concerns with HR, a manager, or an anonymous reporting system if available.
- Call It Out (If Safe to Do So): If you feel comfortable, you can address the behaviour directly—like reminding colleagues to keep conversations professional. But don’t put yourself at risk. Sometimes, reporting it is the better option.
- Encourage Professional Support: If your workplace offers employee assistance programmes or mental health resources, let the affected person know. Sometimes, just knowing help is available can make a difference.
- Stay Aware: Keep an eye on the situation. If the behaviour continues, report it again. Cyberbullying often escalates if left unchecked.
Tackling cyberbullying isn’t just HR’s job—it’s on all of us to create a workplace where everyone feels safe and respected. Speak up, shut it down, and make respect the new office trend.
Your Responsibility as a Manager
As a manager, you set the tone for how your team communicates online. Cyberbullying isn’t always obvious, but it can do real damage—knocking someone’s confidence, affecting their performance, and even impacting their mental health. It’s your job to make sure your workplace is a safe and respectful space for everyone.
Start by setting clear expectations. Everyone should know what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to online communication. Sarcastic comments, passive-aggressive messages, or deliberately leaving people out of work chats might not seem like a big deal at first, but they can quickly create a toxic environment. Make sure your team understands that unprofessional behaviour won’t be ignored. Reinforce these expectations regularly, especially for emails, chat apps, and work platforms.
Pay attention to changes in your team. If someone suddenly stops contributing in meetings, avoids certain colleagues, or seems on edge after checking their messages, they might be struggling. Cyberbullying can be easy to hide, and not everyone will come forward. A simple check-in can make a difference—asking if they’re okay shows you’re paying attention and that you care.
If someone reports an issue, take it seriously. Brushing it off or assuming it’s just workplace tension can make things worse. Handle the conversation with care, keep it confidential, and follow your company’s policies. Acting quickly and fairly builds trust and reassures employees that they’re safe speaking up.
Support is just as important as action. Make sure your team knows where to turn, whether that’s HR, an employee assistance programme, or mental health resources. Let them know they don’t have to deal with it alone.
Finally, lead by example. The way you communicate online sets the standard. If you’re professional and respectful, your team is more likely to follow.
How PMAC Can Help
At PMAC, we understand that tackling harassment and bullying, including cyberbullying, can feel like a big challenge. That’s why we offer practical, tailored Harassment & Bullying Training to help managers and teams navigate these issues with confidence. Our courses are designed to help you recognise the signs of bullying, respond appropriately, and create a respectful and supportive workplace.
With our training, you’ll have the tools to address concerns quickly and effectively, ensuring everyone feels safe and valued. It’s all about creating a positive environment where everyone can be their best selves. So, if you’re looking for support in building a respectful workplace culture, PMAC is here to help.
Originally published: 27/02/2025
Last updated: 27/02/2025