Cyberbullying in the Workplace: Organizational Implications and leadership Strategies

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the phenomenon of cyberbullying in the workplace, its impact on organizational climate, and the role of leadership in prevention and mitigation efforts, with a specific focus on the business and tourism sectors. Cyberbullying—defined as the use of digital communication technologies to harm, intimidate, or socially exclude colleagues—has emerged as a significant occupational hazard in an increasingly digitized work environment. This paper employs a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2024, integrating empirical evidence from organizational psychology, hospitality management, and leadership studies. The findings reveal that workplace cyberbullying contributes to psychological distress, reduced job satisfaction, higher turnover intentions, and diminished productivity. In service-intensive sectors such as tourism and hospitality, these effects are compounded by the reliance on teamwork, high emotional labor, and rapid digital communication. Leadership styles emphasizing ethical conduct, transformational engagement, and the establishment of clear digital communication norms are shown to be protective factors against cyberbullying. Practical recommendations include integrating cyberbullying prevention into organizational policies, providing targeted managerial training, and fostering a workplace culture of psychological safety. This paper contributes to the growing body of research on cyberpsychology and organizational behavior by offering a sector-specific analysis relevant to practitioners, policymakers, and scholars.