Cases of Workplace Bullying Increase by 10% in 2021 with Remote Jobs

Prevention, Combat, and Reporting: Expert Claims That in Remote Work – Away from Harassers, Victims Feel Safer to Report Workplace Harassment

The number of workplace harassment lawsuits increased by more than 10% in the first six months of 2021. Between January and June, according to the Superior Labor Court (TST), 27,117 new cases were recorded, while in the same period last year there were 24,489. According to compliance specialist lawyer André Costa, remote work motivated the reports.

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The retail sector leads the list of new cases in Labor Courts across Brazil, with 5,746 reports. General services, with 3,466 cases; industry, with 3,221; and communications, with 2,047, complete the ranking of sectors that report this type of crime the most.

Remote Work Motivates Reports of Workplace Harassment

According to compliance specialist lawyer André Costa, remote work motivated these reports. “Away from the aggressor and in a healthier environment, the employee has a better perception of how damaging that relationship is and feels safer to report what is happening through reporting channels,” he states.

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Costa, author of the book Corporate Forensic Interviewing and a specialist in detecting workplace harassment in companies, points out that the coverage of numerous cases in the media has been an important awareness tool. “People experiencing harassment, when seeing reported cases on social media or in the press, end up identifying with the situation and gain strength to report,” he says.

If, on one hand, the pandemic encouraged victims to report, on the other hand, it changed the way harassment occurs. “Harassment in remote work manifests in a passive and often silent way. By failing to invite a coworker to meetings, not responding to emails, not answering calls, and excluding them from other activities, a person is committing harassment,” explains the lawyer.

The specialist, who has been investigating and addressing workplace harassment for over 10 years, says that this behavior has become very common in the past year. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have managed many crises related to this behavior that causes tremendous strain and often leads the victim to resign,” he points out.

Prevention, Combat, and Reporting: The Effects of Workplace Harassment Extend Beyond Problems in the Workplace

The effects of workplace harassment extend beyond problems in the workplace. “It is a very cruel form of aggression and generates suffering for the worker. I have encountered cases where the employee took medication to control anxiety and had personal issues arising from the harassment,” he reports.

Reporting: To report aggressors, the lawyer advises gathering as much evidence as possible and seeking theofficial reporting channels of the company. “The victim should document, collect evidence such as screenshots and recordings, gather witnesses, and report through the company’s reporting channels,” he advises.

To break the cycle of abuse, companies need to implement training and frequently guide employees. “It is essential to have specialized consulting to advise, train, and inform that certain jokes, neglect, and disregard within a structure are considered workplace harassment and may lead to penalties,” he advises. “When a report is made, the company should handle it impartially,” he concludes.