Cyber technology has made it a lot easier for people to break the rules at work without getting caught, at least not yet. Workplace deviance is defined by violating company policies. Since everything is digital and online, it is hard to keep track of what everyone is doing. Employees can steal sensitive data or share company secrets. Cyberloafing is when employees spend work hours scrolling through social media, shopping online, or even gaming instead of working. I am guilty of this. It might seem harmless, but it really adds up and kill productivity. I had a boss that would say two phrases and now I tend to use them. “If you got time to lean, you could clean!” and “I don’t pay you to be on your phone!” I like to ask anyone I am supervising, “Is that Jesus on the phone?”

Another issue I observed was online harassment. Let us say a person had access to phone numbers and emails of employees that listed it as a point of contact on company software that post schedules. That person can harass said person for any reason. This information can be shared and opposed a security risk. This kind of behavior makes the workplace very toxic. Can eventually lead to legal consequences.

There are tools that let people hide what they are doing- like encrypted messaging apps or software that mask activities. Individuals can make a 100% profit on side hustles while earner a paycheck and using company’s resources. The misuse of company internet access for personal gain is often overlooked because of remote work environments. This reduces managerial oversight, making it easier to go unnoticed. Just think about cyber espionage and what can happen.

In the end, while cyber tools have made work easier in a lot of ways, they have also opened the door for new types of misconduct. That is why companies need to be proactive with cybersecurity, set clear rules, and keep an eye on how tech is being used.