Learn What to Do About Office Gossip

What are your personal feelings about gossip in the workplace? Are you generally for it or against it? Whether you like or detest office gossip, there is a good chance you will encounter it at one point or another, so it would behoove you to be prepared. You will pick up instruction on how to deal with gossip in the workplace.

One method you can incorporate to deal with gossip at work is to probe. If a fellow employee says something about someone else without providing evidence that supports his or her claim, you can express a sense of curiosity. Here is an example you can follow:

Fellow Employee: “Have you found out what happened between Bobby and Kelly? They locked themselves up in the hallway closet and engaged in sex with each other on their lunch break.”

You: “Is that so? How did you find out about it? Did you hear about this incident from someone else or did you personally see the alleged act? Do you possess any photographs or video footage of this?”

Fellow Employee: “No. I do not have any pictures but I know it happened.”

You: “Thank you for the information you have conveyed. I hope you are telling the truth and not just spreading a rumor. I’ll talk with you later.”

You can attempt to deal with rumors that are spread at the office by becoming passive and stoic. You might be better off and create a conductive use of your time by ignoring gossip you encounter. If you do not display a reaction to information you doubt is accurate and therefore walk away, you might discourage the rumor spreader; after all, some people who like to do weird things or stir up trouble crave attention.

Make your own determination on when it is necessary to interfere with the spreading of rumors. For example, if there are too many important things to be done, you could say, “I take pleasure in hearing what you have to say but now is not an appropriate time to discuss what appears to be gossip because there is so much important stuff we have to do. Please bring up this matter again at a later time.”

Take a stand on office gossip if it is necessary. If someone does it repeatedly and it annoys you, ask him or her to stop.

Another method you can use to deal with gossip at work is to embrace it. If someone presents claims that appear to be harmless and you need something to cheer you up, you can go along with what the rumor spreader says.

Do the things you have learned to deal with gossip at work!