If you work online, then you may be an easier target of workplace harassment. Workplace harassment can follow you around the clock when you work online.
If you are a victim of online workplace harassment, here are a few ways to handle the situation:
Limit who can access your social media account
Social media is one of the easiest places for harassers to access. Many social media platforms will recommend friends to others, and this could cause a harasser to easily find their victim. If you have any social media accounts, you typically can locate your privacy settings and adjust who can access your profile. This can limit unwanted texts from your harasser.
Do not answer work calls or emails after hours
Harassers can call or email their victims often, especially after work hours. This can disturb a victim’s daily life. You may want to set your phone on silent and close your email after you are done working for the day.
Save all conversations
One of the benefits of working online is that you can collect a lot of information about your harasser’s actions. If your harasser does send a lot of texts or emails, you can save them as evidence if you decide to report the harassment or make a workplace harassment claim.
Blind carbon copy (BCC) supervisors
Blind carbon copy (BCC) allows people to add others to email chains without alerting others that they were attached. You may want to BCC your supervisor on any emails you have with your harasser so they can collect evidence too.
Report the online harassment
If the harassment does not stop, you can make a claim. A workplace harassment claim can protect you from further abuse and perhaps correct the harasser’s actions.
