‘Ghosting’ is emotional cruelty, affects work productivity — solon

PHOTO: ST FILE

MANILA, Philippines — “Ghosting” or the act of cutting off all communication with an individual — usually to a romantic partner — could affect the work productivity of the person on the receiving end, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves Jr., the lawmaker who filed a bill seeking to declare ghosting as an emotional offense, said many people are victims of ghosting and it turn it affects their productivity at work.

“Marami talagang namomroblema sa ghosting. Importante sa tao ‘yung emotional at mental state, it affects the productivity of the person,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

(Many people are affected by ghosting. The emotional and the mental state of the person is important as it affects their productivity.)

“‘Yung productivity ng mga trabahante natin affects all of us, so kung may ghinost na tao, hindi na makapagtrabaho,” Teves added.

(The productivity of the worker affects us all, so if there is a person who was “ghosted”, he or she may not be able to work.)

In House Bill No. 611, Teves argued that ghosting in a dating relationship can be “mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting to the ‘ghosted person.’”

He added that ghosting can be “likened to a form of emotional cruelty” as it leaves the aggrieved with trauma due to “no real closure.”

In the interview, the Negros Oriental lawmaker said ghosting not only affects the pride of the person on the receiving end, it also affects their mental health since they are left with unanswered questions as to what happened to the relationship.

“About ghosting, hindi lang ‘yun dahil natatamaan ‘yung pride ng ghinost. On the positive side of things, hindi naiisip nung nang-ghost na ‘yung ghinost niya nag-aalala din kung ano nangyari. Hindi niya alam kung nawalan na ba gusto sa kanya o baka naaksidente lang o nawala. It’s a matter of informing,” he said.

(It’s not just because the person’s pride is affected. The one who did ghosting do not realize that the person he or she left is left wondering what happened — did he or she lost interest or maybe he or she figured in an accident.)

Teves said he believes his bill would have the support of the House leadership, if they understand the purpose of the bill.

“It happens to a lot of people. Maraming apektado talaga sa trabaho. Hindi lang nakukuha ng records at ng list ng data natin ng gobyerno,” he said.

(Many people are affected at work. We just don’t have records or data.)

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Lawmaker wants ‘ghosting’ declared an emotional offense