Gossip in the Workplace

August 12th, 2009

42-22342647I’ve heard many stories and tales since I’ve been working.

  • The manager who bedded her customers
  • The professor who bedded his students
  • The colleague who took a leave of absence for drug rehabilitation
  • The teacher who was forced to resign because of alcoholism

There are many more. To this day, I don’t know if any were true, but they were told and had a negative impact,  leading to decreased productivity, communication, team work, and trust. According to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gossip in the workplace can also have legal consequences as well.

In the past, I’ve even had to correct a few misstatements circulating in the office. A colleague once accused me of having a sugar daddy because I wasn’t going to apply for unemployment one summer. I hadn’t told her of my summer plans; I told someone else, but that turned into ‘Danielle has someone taking care of her.’

I thought it was funny. It really doesn’t matter if I do or don’t, but I did later explain that I didn’t know Unemployment Insurance was an option, so I had been saving throughout the year for our summer recess.

On another occasion, after telling a new colleague of a vacation out west, I was asked, “So who did you go with? You know I want all the details. Girl, fill me in…”

After hearing this, I got quiet, and responded jokingly with, ” Girl, it was just beautiful; I had a great time,” and walked away. Needless to say, I’ve kept my distance ever since.

There was no need to give any more information because this particular person had already revealed their motive and selfish interest.

In my book, being both ‘new’ and a ‘colleague’ creates automatic boundaries. There was no need to elaborate; there was only a need for me to heed the words of Dr. Maya Angelou, “When people show you who they are, believe them…the first time. ”

What are you thoughts of gossip in the workplace? How have you dealt with it?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Responses to “Gossip in the Workplace”

Nicki Sunshine Says:

I do not mess with gossip in the workplace.

Re: managers… I think they shouldn’t be befriending their subordinates in the first place.

August 12th, 2009 at 9:17 am

Danielle Says:

You’re right….but I’ve always seen the opposite, which has always led to problems.

August 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am

Nicki Sunshine Says:

Exactly!!!! We used to go bowling and hang out with our managers.. but the thing is- our managers were men. I’m not saying they don’t gossip just as much as women, but we definitely didnt’ have the mess.

I used to work for a company and one of my good friends was friends with the head of HR… my friend knew too much information that she should not have.

August 13th, 2009 at 9:20 am

Danielle Says:

Nicki, so are you saying that women gossip more? I know that you stated, “I’m not saying they don’t gossip just as much as women,” but you also made a point to say “our managers were men,” and “we definitely didn’t have the mess.”

August 13th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Nicki Sunshine Says:

I think men gossip too… but maybe they don’t harp on it as much as we do….

Men seem to talk about it and forget about it… we think and analyze on it.

August 14th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

TheShinx Says:

I think this is definitely a topic worth discussing more. What happens when you work at a place where there’s predominantly black workers, and they all think that just because we’re of the same ethnicity, that warrants me spilling all my beans to them. And then they say you’re “stuck up” or “think you’re better than everybody” if you don’t? I just decided that I’d do as my boss does (most of the time), but every now and then, I think it’s good to sit with the (I call them the) “lunch crowd”, just to keep a balance. You don’t have to SAY anything when they’re talking. I know that the culture of my work is more relaxed, and unfortunately, in order to get any office supplies, etc, I need to be in good with the lunch crowd. But then, to get the promotions, I need to be in with my boss. So I think it’s just finding the right balance.

August 20th, 2009 at 11:16 am

Danielle Says:

@TheSphinx:

I’m writing in response to the question you posed: “What happens when you work at a place where there’s predominantly black workers, and they all think that just because we’re of the same ethnicity, that warrants me spilling all my beans to them. And then they say you’re “stuck up” or “think you’re better than everybody” if you don’t?”

This is an interesting question and I can only share my experience. For the most part, I have never became friends with colleagues. I talk and socialize while at work, but I provide limited information to squash gossip and keep my focus. I have become friends with them later, after one of us has left the company…..and that has worked well for me.

Honestly, I really wouldn’t care what they thought…..you can never control what people think anyway…you are who you are…..and what’s stuck up to one might be quiet to another or reserved to someone else…..the most important thing is that the job is done. Are you respected for the work you do? What does your supervisor think of your work ethic?

I am a little curious however….you mentioned colleagues and wrote as if they’re opposing forces in the office. You said, “in order to get any office supplies, etc, I need to be in good with the lunch crowd. But then, to get the promotions, I need to be in with my boss.” Couldn’t you be in with both? Do you feel stretched as if you have to choose a side?

August 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

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