Online abuse in the workplace

Online abuse and WHS

Online abuse can cause psychological and physical harm – whether it occurs within the workplace, or outside of the work environment.

Work health and safety laws require persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) – such as employers, to ensure workers and others are not exposed to risks, so far as reasonably practicable.

What is workplace online abuse?

Online abuse can come in many forms and takes place in a variety of channels. It is behavior that “uses technology to threaten, intimidate, bully, harass or humiliate someone.” (Source: Safe Work Australia)

The abuse can take place on email, telephone – calls and SMS, social media – such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, online chat, messaging services, or other forms of technology used in the workplace.

Examples of workplace online abuse

Online abuse can come from external sources such as customers, clients, or members of the public, or from within the workplace and come from workers, supervisors or managers. It can include:

• offensive or sexually explicit messages or phone calls
• abusive comments on a business’ or a worker’s social media
• threatening or inciting violence
• sharing or threatening to share an intimate image or video without the person’s consent
• publicising personal details online
• hacking into a business’ or a worker’s online account, and
• stalking a person online or tracking them through a phone or device.

 

Workplace online abuse – fact sheets

Safe Work Australia has developed several Fact Sheets which provide information for employers and employees on their duties and obligations under work health and safety (WHS) laws to manage the risks in the workplace.

Download the fact sheets

• Online abuse fact sheet – Information for Employers
• Online abuse fact sheet – Information for Workers

Bullying and harassment training for employees

Masula Compliance can assist employers or PCBUs to develop and deliver workplace training on discrimination, bullying, harassment, or other human resource related content. We’ve partnered with Altora to provide clients with high quality online training without the hassle and cost of running your own platform.

✓ Remote web based login for users
✓ Generation of certificates of completion
✓ Generation of competency assessment records
✓ Generation of records for acknowledgement of acceptance of company policies or requirements
✓ Regular reporting
✓ Customisable form completion
✓ Evidence request i.e. licence or insurance submission
✓ Expiry tracking for training or licences and insurances

Talk to us

If you need assistance with your Work Health and Safety policies or Human Resources procedures and how to manage this in relation to your workplace, or support to develop and deliver training for your employees, talk to us.

We can ensure you have the appropriate systems and procedures in place and help you to manage the workplace risks for employers and employees.

Get in touch with the team from Masula Compliance on 07 3348 3666 or email info@masulacompliance.com.au