ADDRESSING WORKPLACE CYBERBULLYING – KEY CHALLENGES AND THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LABOUR LAW

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has made the use of internet technologies and digital tools standard components of modern workplaces, particularly among white-collar employees. Alongside these advancements, new forms of workplace misconduct have emerged, including cyberbullying. This phenomenon may be understood as inappropriate behavior – whether repeated or as a single act with enduring consequences – conducted through emails, messaging applications, social media, or other digital platforms, with the intent to harass, intimidate, or demean colleagues, subordinates, or workers in general. Unlike traditional „face-to-face” bullying, which requires direct interaction, cyberbullying transcends physical boundaries, taking place in digital environments both during and outside working hours. Its persistence makes it difficult to escape, often following victims through their devices and networks, thereby posing serious risks to health and overall well-being. The paper employs normative and comparative legal methods to examine existing legal provisions on workplace cyberbullying within selected jurisdictions, with the aim of identifying models of good legislative practice for improving Serbian labour law. Current Serbian legislation on the prevention of workplace harassment does not explicitly define or address cyberbullying, creating regulatory gaps that leave workers insufficiently protected. As the world of work increasingly shifts toward virtual and digital spaces, a holistic legal approach to the prevention of cyberbullying and the protection of affected workers becomes essential. Strengthening the normative framework is critical not only for safeguarding workers’ rights, but also for fostering a healthy and more sustainable working environment.