Bullying on the Net: Adverse Behavior on the E-Mail and Its Impact

A study into the effects of bullying at work, including bullying via e-mail, was conducted in a large Multi National Corporation. A considerable amount of bullying was found on the e-mail system, with negative outcomes similar to those of conventional bullying. Bullying was associated with anxiety and tendency to quit, and negatively associated with job satisfaction and performance. The results expand current understanding of the drawbacks associated with misuse and abuse of information technology in an organizational context. Information Technology, Communication and Organizations The electronic network, and in particular the e-mail media, form technology tools which enables a fast, accurate and effective means of communication. Moreover, the utilization of e-mail systems has far reaching outcomes; perhaps even more than it was designed to achieve. This paper will focus on a negative side effect of e-mail system misuse and abuse of the system via bullying and will explore the extent and possible impact of the use of e-mail systems for bullying in the workplace. Theoretical Model Development The theoretical base for understanding adverse behavior in organizations and its outcomes can be traced back to Gouldner’s (1960) classic article about norms of reciprocity. Bullying is a form of verbal aggressive behavior. In addition to accidental cases, certain people may intentionally use malicious or defamatory messages to bully others. Vardi & Winer 1996 ‘misbehavior in organizations’ and Anderson and Pearson, 1999, ‘mistreatment in organizations’ may act here as a cover framework