Connectivity – an emerging WH&S Risk
Social Media is an interesting beast. There are plenty of benefits, you can reach a wider, targeted audience in a cost effective way, on a platform where geographical location is largely irrelevant, and you can get feedback from customers in a simple and (brutally) honest way. You can even start a blog, write about whatever you want, and maybe someone will read it. Maybe lots of people will, with which comes advertising dollars, sponsorship, an audience in the hundreds of thousands and one or two people (or maybe more) who will hate you with an inhuman amount of energy and venom.
Much has been written about the recent suicide of celebrity TV presenter and former model Charlotte Dawson following a situation where she had been a target of online bullying. Also high-lighted in the media has been the suicide of a UK nurse following an Australian radio prank and the worrying trend of cyber bullying in schools.
What I have not really seen discussed, is the potential Workplace Health and Safety implications for businesses/employers in light of improved technology such as smart phones which make it simple for us to remain connected via phone, email, sms, and social media at all times of the day and night.
Some potential risk scenarios spring to mind.
- Social Media permits the sharing of information in a rapid fashion. The community and anonymity associated with this platform can quickly become toxic and damaging in a vigilante-type way. Didn’t like the service you received at the store or restaurant? Why not name and shame on Facebook or twitter, post an abusive rant on their page, or even encourage your friends or followers to harass those involved.
- A worker able to access email and work from home and out and about, finds themselves constantly switched on, unable to relax and working virtually 24 hours a day 7 days per week. Because they always seem to be working and available, colleagues contact them regardless of the day or time, knowing the worker will respond.
- A worker, unhappy with their manager posts about it on social media, a friend responds by advising that they will “sort” them out. Work colleagues of the worker read this and report it back to the manager who is concerned for their own safety.
In each of these situations there is a risk to the mental and or physical wellbeing of employees affected. Understandably many employers have been reluctant to act regarding actions of their employees on social media with the fear of overstepping boundaries in terms of privacy and personal lives.
It is clear however, that connectivity (social media, email, sms, Wi-Fi, smart phones) is here to stay, and that this issue must be addressed by employers in a multi-faceted way in order to reduce the potential risks associated with it.
Some steps to address the OH&S risks associated with social media and connectivity might include:
- Ensuring that codes of conduct, IT and internet use policies specifically address potential problems concerning work related and non-related use of social media, particularly in terms of negative company image or speaking about or on behalf of the company
- Ensuring that policies and procedures include measures for the prevention of cyber bullying of staff within and external to the company, together with procedures and training for responding and supporting those who are the victims of such occurrences.
- Putting in place measures to encourage employees to have down time or off line time. This could be as simple as encouraging employees to leave the sending and responding to non-urgent work related calls, emails or texts until the next business day, or using a roster system for essential enquiries outside of regular business hours.
Connectivity has plenty of positives for businesses and individuals. Ensuring that we do not allow connectivity to enter into negative territory such as burnout, anxiety or bullying is a new challenge for employers whose obligations now extend beyond the traditional 9-5.
Christina Willcox MHSc; PostGradDip OHS; BBus
Workplace Health & Safety Specialist
