New CIOP-PIB report: Cyberbullying at work - Analysis 2025

First of all, the new report stresses that cybermobbing is a global phenomenon, which is of particular importance in the context of the lack of a uniform definition. Depending on the cultural context, social norms, access to technology or the professional environment, this concept can consist of very different behaviors. What unites them, however, is the crossing of borders, the abuse of power and the use of violence. The study conducted by CIOP-PIB, specifically by Dr. Magdalena Warszewska-Makuch, based on the results of the 5th and 6th stages of the multi-year program entitled “Government Program for Improving Safety and Working Conditions”, funded by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy as part of the tasks of state services, is another attempt to illustrate — with the help of data — what cyberviolence is, what its types are, the scale of the phenomenon, the effects and the means of counteracting.

The report included both new data and concepts such as cyberloafing, as well as a summary of the legal regulations on cyberbullying in the workplace.

It is worth emphasizing that despite the variety of definitions of cyberbullying — according to some, the occurrence of repetitive behaviors is key, which was recently emphasized on the CIOP-PIB website, and according to others, the disproportion of power or position between the perpetrator and the victim is important — all these factors are important. Nevertheless, the most important thing is that we are dealing with violence carried out through information and communication technologies. They are behaviors that must be reacted to and that must be unequivocally condemned, regardless of whether they are repetitive or occur within a hierarchical relationship. At the same time, it is worth remembering that mobbing and cybermobbing are not the same as constructive criticism or open and sincere expression of one's emotions and feelings. Cyberbullying can be related to the work environment, but due to the ubiquity of technology, it can also occur in school, personal life and other spheres of everyday life.

That is why education, systemic safeguards and organizational solutions that would function as preventive and protective measures are so important.

One of the most important quotes of the report is thatProfessor Małgorzata Gamian-Wilk, who shows the scale and rank of the problem:

(...) The reader will be able to convince himself that cyberbullying is a problem not only of entire organizations, but of the whole society and the state.

The quote makes it clear that cyberbullying is not just an individual experience of the victim, but a systemic problem that needs to be addressed at the institutional and social level.

Definition Reminder

The following summary presents the basic definitions and characteristics of cyberbullying, helping to understand the differences between its forms. This brief reminder makes it easier to identify the phenomenon and can serve as a starting point for further analysis of the problem.

In the 2025 report more specific elements and subcategories of the phenomenon of cyberbullying have appeared - it shows that it takes different forms, each of which is characterized by a different way of acting of the perpetrator. Flamingo are aggressive arguments conducted online, often with profanity and threats. Harassment consists in the repeated sending of abusive messages, aimed at torturing the victim. Denigration refers to the dissemination of lies or compromising information that is intended to harm a person's reputation. Impersonation is the impersonation of the victim, usually in order to ridicule or discredit her. Outing and trickery involve revealing private secrets or manipulating information to humiliate the victim. Exclusion is the conscious exclusion of a person from online groups or shared online activities. Cyberstalking means persistent harassment, often combined with threats that create a sense of danger. In turn happy slapping is the recording and publication of acts of physical or mental violence, often with the aim of amusing others or humiliating the victim.

Cybermobbing - the scale of the phenomenon

The report includes data from different parts of the world. The average percentage of people experiencing this type of violence (Eng. cybervictimisation) in the European Union ranges from 2.8% to 31.5%. In the United States, cyberbullying is a significant and well-studied problem, with 15% to 35% of adolescents experiencing this type of aggression, depending on their age and patterns of Internet use, among others.

In Canada, on the other hand, the scale of the phenomenon is similar, with about 14% of young people admitting to having been a victim of cyberbullying, whereas it is more common for people from less privileged backgrounds.

In Asia, the problem of cybermobbing is linked to the Chinese culture of collectivism and the emphasis on education. In Japan, however, it takes on more subtle forms, and therefore less noticeable - these are, for example: exclusion from online groups or dissemination of objectionable content in a way that allows perpetrators to avoid immediate responsibility.

In Latin America, the problem of cyberbullying is increasing, especially in countries with a high level of digitization, such as Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. In African countries, where Internet access is still limited, it is more difficult to accurately estimate the scale of the problem.

Europe

Percentage of cyberbullies in Europe (cyberperpetration) ranges from 3.0% to 30.6%. These discrepancies are the result not only of different research methods, but also of different cultural, social and technological conditions.

📍 Spain: The highest rates were 57.5% of young people who said they had been victims of cyberbullying, while 46.3% said they had used it. 📍 Italy: 34.2% experienced online violence, 29.8% admitted to using it. 📍 Germany: 25.6% of victims and 21.4% of perpetrators. 📍 Poland: 30.1% of young people have been victims of cyberbullying and 25.5% have been the perpetrators of it. 📍 Sweden (example of Scandinavian countries): relatively lower rates — 26.7% of victims and 21.2% of perpetrators, which may be the result of effective educational campaigns and greater public awareness. 📍 Eastern Europe: This problem is also faced: in Romania the percentage of victims is 23.5% and the perpetrators are 19.8%; in the Czech Republic 22.4% and 18.3% respectively.

In the work environment

The scale of cyberbullying in the workplace is becoming more and more visible. In which work environments does this type of violence occur most often? The CIOP-PIB survey from 2022 shows that 12.8% of mental workers have experienced cyberbullying at least once a month, and almost half of those surveyed (48%) have encountered it in the past year. The highest level of exposure was recorded in the IT and communications sector (18%), slightly lower in financial (14%) and scientific-technical (11%).

The trends coincide with those from abroad; In Belgium, 18% of employees in various industries reported such experiences, in the UK as many as 80% of researchers had experienced it in the last six months, and in Canada 25% of academics admitted to being victims of cyberbullying — both by students and colleagues. By comparison, 22% of journalists in Sweden have been victims of online violence, and in New Zealand 3% of employees in various sectors have experienced it regularly every week for at least six months.

What increases the risk of cybermobbing?

According to research, several factors influence the risk of this type of violence:

• Low social support High level of conflict “work - private life”
• Low quality of service, including lack of ethical guidance,
• Unfavorable social climate,
• Low level of trust in management,
• Little possibility of development.

The problem of cyberbullying stems not only from the blurring of the boundaries between work and private life, but also from the increasingly blurred line between the real and virtual worlds. The psychological conditions of both the perpetrator and the victim also play an important role here. For the perpetrator, the online space can be a convenient environment for action — it allows to maintain anonymity, avoid direct confrontation with the victim's emotions and to manipulate the situation more easily. All this can weaken his sense of guilt and responsibility for the harm done.

Do we have legal solutions?

As the report shows - in the Polish legal system there is no single, specially dedicated law regulating the issues of cybermobbing. Nevertheless, this phenomenon can be prosecuted and counteracted on the basis of the provisions contained in various legal acts, such as the Criminal, Civil and Labor Code. In addition, international documents, including ILO Convention No. 190 concerning Violence and Harassment at Work, are of significant importance — although Poland has not yet ratified it at the time of drafting this report, appropriate legislative measures are underway in this regard.

What can we do at the organizational level?

Prevention of cyberbullying in the workplace is based on clear rules and actions to support digital security. The key is introduction of anti-cyberbullying policy, setting out the rules for the use of technology, how to report incidents (preferably anonymously) and ensuring the protection of victims. Employee education; through training, information campaigns and building a culture of respect — helps to raise awareness and reduce the risk of the phenomenon. Psychological support, coaching or employee assistance programs are a valuable tool in the process of recovering from a crisis. The CIOP-PIB study also shows that emotion regulation trainings can reduce the risk of cyberbullying — improving well-being, reducing stress levels and supporting the psychological resilience of both employees and management.

summary

Despite the cited data, examples and methods of prevention, the greatest attention should be paid to systemic actions — especially legal regulation and consistent response to violence, not only in cyberspace. Any reaction to violence in everyday life sends a clear signal to potential perpetrators: this type of behavior is not accepted in society.

Sources:

1. https://www.ciop.pl/CIOPPortalWAR/file/100084/Cyberprzemoc_w_pracy_raport_FINAL_Internet.pdf
2. https://www.prawo.pl/kadry/cyberprzemoc-w-pracy-raport-ciop-pib,532451.html