Workplace Gossip: How To Deal With It & The People Who Engage In It

In any workplace environment, there will be instances where people will speculate on and secretly converse & confine in small groups about other co-workers. But when that conversation becomes gossip, this can put a strain on and is detrimental to not only people's careers and reputations but can also ruin friendships and any trust that the person they are speculating about towards the accused party. To find out that fellow colleagues are gossipmongers and thus forth, talking behind your back is a horrible feeling. 

It can also affect morale, productivity and team relations.  

Elliot Lasson, executive director of Joblink states, ''gossip may be in fact a form of verbal harassment''

I understand that whilst it is not always possible to be friends, at least we should be civil, understanding and respectful towards one another as work colleagues. & if you have nothing nice to say, much like the Ronan Keating song, 'you say it best when you say nothing at all'. Only when one says it best when they have nothing good or positive to say to not say it at all. 


Here are a few things to consider and look out for at work:

• Do not actively engage in gossip or elevate it further; by doing so you are encouraging it, - instead, change the subject and try to make it more positive and deflect the negative gossip, even if they try and keep dwelling on the negatives and badmouthing him/her/you. Distance yourself from toxic behaviour and negativity by invariably thinking positive thoughts about yourself & try to steer clear from him/her/them. Be an example by being assertive and the stronger person. Toxic coworkers have this work mentality whereby their selfishness and trash-talking disrupts and unsettles the wellbeing, harmony, happiness and success of their target, of whom they see as either weak or successful. They thrive on negativity

• Gossip is a substitute to fill one's needs of connection and to draw attention without having to face the other person, by doing so one fails to take responsibility for his/her feelings 

• Negative gossiping is a form of indirect, passive power play behaviour wherein the target is not usually included indirectly and is not present 

• People gossip to connect, but when it becomes at the expense of someone else and thus ends up hurting their feelings, that is when s/he has crossed the line. It is shallow, it is a sign that they must or might hold a grudge against that person and plus, it also reveals their true colours

• Negativity is contagious, do not pass it on - it is also the #1 sign to look out for in a toxic individual 

• Keep your distance from, or limit your distance and interactions and conversations from these people to only when necessary; i.e. carrying out a task and they need assistance so it can be completed

• Those who are bullied and feel they are being talked about should confide in and seek solace in someone so that they can gain support and confidence from yourself and to lessen the sense of isolation 

• Do not quit your day job - you did nothing wrong and you shouldn't be made to leave over something that isn't your fault 

• You go to work to earn a living, to do your best in your job and to go home with a happy look on your face - you DON'T go to work to become unhappy, to endure humiliation, intimidation, badmouthing and nasty rumours made about you by colleagues, members of staff and members of the public 

• Show yourself up to be the bigger person but not by lowering yourself to their standards. Appreciate and acknowledge your strengths and what you have and can offer to the company by focusing on working hard. You are of so much more worth than them