How has cyber technology created opportunities for workplace deviance?

Workplace deviance has become a very common occurrence in the 21st century, as there is a multitude of situations where employees may become disgruntled enough to act out in harmful ways. With more companies and employers adopting online and digital practices, much more dangerous avenues of workplace deviance have been created. Cyber crimes, which can be defined as criminal activities that are carried out over the internet, have devastating effects on both employees and their employers. One of the ways in which employees can participate in cyber workplace deviance would be by leaking vital company information. Due to a firing or falling out with management, an angry employee might use their login credentials to access sensitive information and leak it, which could greatly damage the company’s reputation. Ex-employees might even leave with this information and blackmail the company afterward, demanding a high ransom to be paid. Disputes in the workplace are a common affair and can be exasperated using cyber-technology. An employee might use another employee’s work email to sign up for numerous phishing scams and websites riddled with malware. Another example would be an employee logging into another employee’s computer to download as many viruses and malware as possible in an attempt to sabotage the other employee’s device. Companies often have corporate credit cards, which is another avenue that employees might take advantage of. Charging the card with unnecessary items, personal purchases, or even leaking the card number online are all dangers a workplace needs to be prepared for. Even something as simple as cyber bullying is something that is now possible in the workplace. In fits of anger, employees might post harmful and negative comments about either their coworkers or the company. This can sour company morale and create many HR problems while also making the company look immature and unprofessional.