Avoid Office Gossip at All Cost

It happens in nearly every office, or work environment. Idle gossip. Who hasn't talked about a co worker in a less than flattering way? Sure we know it is wrong usually but we do it anyhow, we talk about the people we work with , to other people we work with.

However office gossip can be very harmful to your career, participating in the American work past time could result in a lawsuit. The company could be the target, or it could be you, if you are spreading malicious gossip.

Studies have found that office gossip is not only harmful to morale, but it also creates feelings of less than good will amongst the employees. If you find yourself at the water cooler and someone starts dishing the dirt on some one else, maybe you should just excuse yourself and return to work. If you find that does not eliminate the gossip from working its way to you, avoid email gossip at all costs. This is the most dangerous form of gossip, it can and will come back on you. I am not saying that you can't talk about your co workers, I would just recommend indulging away from the professional setting.

Office gossip should never be shared with superiors, it will reflect on your professional image. Your boss will not be impressed by your knowledge of everyone else's personal life . Obviously you should never indulge in gossip about your boss. Someone will snitch on you, and then you will certainly not be on the list of the boss's favorites.

What should you do if you are the one every one is gossiping about? First determine exactly what is being said. Is it true? Incriminating? Then say nothing, and deny anything you are confronted with. Keep your cool and draw as little attention to the situation being discussed by coworkers. As an example, if everyone is talking about your secret affair with your boss and it is true, obviously change your tact, if you want to sleep with your boss, that is your agenda . However you do not want to flaunt it, use discretion. Do not avoid your boss , but maintain a professional relationship and attitude when in front of coworkers. You might also explain to the boss, although you enjoy your private relationship you would like to use more discretion about hooking up, so people are not calling you the office slut.

If the gossip about you is completely untrue you should keep your cool and determine who is talking. I would advise you to catch that person when they least expect it, and say " hi, uh, I have heard what you are saying about me, and just so you know I am not sleeping with our boss/ an alcoholic/ or whatever. Your source is way off and I do not appreciate being the victim of malicious idle gossip. It violates my rights, and makes me feel uncomfortable at work."Keep your tone of voice pleasant, and don't sound threatening. If the gossiper is rude or threatening you can reply with some thing like " I wanted to talk to you as an adult, but I can now see that is impossible, and I will have to take this to the supervisor if it continues."

I know it is hard to not talk about each other, but if you refrain, and keep yourself out of the drama you will find that your work life is so much more peaceful.