How to Deal With Workplace Gossip: A Guide for Employees

As most of us know, Silicon Valley Bank imploded recently. One of the elements that caught my attention was that the bank run was fueled by talk. As a business owner, that got me thinking more broadly about gossip in the workplace.

The reality is that everyone has a vital role to play in creating a positive work environment. Still, although everyone knows it, sometimes things turn negative, or worse: toxic. One of the most counterproductive activities that can harm a business is talk, gossip, chatter or gossip emails and digital messages on business platforms.

Sure, it may seem harmless in any office environment as if it’s nothing more than talk, but it’s not. Gossip has real consequences. For one, gossip is disrespectful, can lead to low morale and its hard to get out of once a company finds itself mired in it.

Gossip also impacts a companys collective output. For instance, it decreases productivity and customer service, and ultimately, it can even affect a companys revenue. If people arent all pulling in the same direction—and doing so positively—this can devastate growth and revenue. Over time, this can also affect bonuses and even jobs. MORE FROM

Gossip and rumors seem unavoidable in most work environments While gossip may start innocently enough, it can quickly spiral out of control and create a toxic culture of mistrust, distraction, and unprofessional behavior

As an employee, you may feel frustrated or hurt by workplace gossip. So how should you handle gossip if you become the subject of false rumors or witness harmful gossip about others?

In this comprehensive guide we’ll explore constructive strategies to curb and defuse gossip in order to maintain a positive work culture.

What Causes Gossip at Work?

Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand what allows gossip to breed in workplaces:

Boredom – Idle chit chat can cross lines without employees realizing it.
Insecurity – Gossiping can wrongly make people feel better about themselves.
Lack of information – Withholding information from employees can spur rumors.
Power dynamics – Gossip can be a way to undermine those in power.
Conflicts – Personality clashes and disagreements can ignite gossip.
Jealousy – Resenting a coworker’s success or promotion can initiate rumors.
Anonymity – Online anonymity empowers people to gossip without repercussion.

While gossip will likely always persist to some degree in work settings, there are many actions employees and managers can take to minimize unprofessional gossip.

6 Ways Employees Can Discourage Gossip at Work

As an individual employee, you may feel powerless against workplace gossip. However, there are impactful actions you can take:

1. Lead by Example

Refuse to participate in gossip about other employees.
Shut down gossip when you encounter it rather than staying silent.
Focus conversations on work tasks and collaboration.

Leading by example establishes professional norms and pressures others to follow suit.

2. Be Inclusive

Make new hires and outliers feel welcomed rather than excluded.
Introduce colleagues and encourage friendly interactions.

Exclusion breeds gossip, so be inclusive.

3. Act Early

If you hear inaccurate rumors about yourself, address them quickly before they spread.

Nipping gossip in the bud prevents escalation.

4. Encourage Positive Communication

Advocate for regular staff meetings and increased transparency.

This reduces the need for gossip.

5. Show Empathy and Care

Put yourself in others’ shoes before spreading rumors.
Check in with struggling coworkers.

Empathy prevents malicious gossip.

6. Observe and Assess

Note patterns about what spurs gossip in your workplace.
Flag concerns to management once you spot gossip trends.

Observation allows you to detect the root causes.

While not every case of gossip can be avoided, employees can significantly improve their workplace culture by following these tips.

How Managers Can Combat Gossip and Rumors

As a manager, you have more formal power to shape workplace norms. Here are effective tactics managers can use to combat gossip:

Hold Employees Accountable

Make it clear gossip will not be tolerated.
Intervene when witnessing unprofessional gossip.
Involve HR if gossip escalates to harassment.

Accountability changes behavior.

Increase Transparency

Communicate company information openly and frequently.
Explain the reasons behind major decisions.

Lack of information breeds rumors. Transparency fixes that.

Resolve Conflicts Quickly

Mediate disputes and personality clashes between team members early on.

Left unresolved, conflicts often devolve into gossip.

Build Trust and Community

Organize team building activities.
Support employee resource groups.

Close-knit teams gossip less.

Model Professional Behavior

Never participate in gossip yourself.

Your actions set the tone for the entire company.

Managers should supplement these proactive steps by maintaining an open door policy and making themselves available to listen to employee concerns before they devolve into rumors.

How to Confront Workplace Gossip if You’re the Subject

Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself the subject of false gossip at work. When directly confronted with harmful rumors about yourself, here are tips to handle it professionally:

Stay Calm

Avoid lashing out in anger, as hard as it may be. This only fuels the fire.

Keep cool, and people are more likely to see the absurdity of the gossip.

Correct Falsehoods Matter-of-Factly

Stick to the facts to disprove any untrue aspects of rumors.

Getting defensive can seem suspicious. Calmly set the record straight.

Revisit Why Gossip May Have Started

Reflect on whether your own actions unknowingly fueled rumors.

Taking some responsibility can convince people the gossip is misguided.

Request Management Support

Ask that managers intervene in stopping the spread if it persists.

Involving authorities adds seriousness and weight.

Consult HR if Needed

If gossip has escalated to harassment or creates a hostile environment, report it.

HR can handle severe cases that interfere with work.

With tact and care, even the most absurd gossip can be stopped in its tracks. Stay professional in these difficult situations.

When Does Gossip Become Unlawful?

While gossip can hurt workplace morale and productivity, in many cases it does not cross legal boundaries. However, these examples below illustrate when gossip and rumors do breach laws:

Discrimination – Spreading insults or false rumors about protected classes of people.
Quid pro quo – Demanding sexual favors in exchange for stopping rumors.
Defamation – Sharing objectively damaging false statements as fact.
Hostile work environment – Harassing someone to the point where they cannot work.
Retaliation – Spreading rumors against someone for reporting misconduct.
Stalking – Obsessively gossiping about someone’s private life.

For gossip to be legally actionable, there is usually a pattern of egregious behavior involved. However, any form of potentially unlawful gossip should be immediately reported to HR.

Best Practices for Handling Company Gossip

While some gossip will always exist in workplaces, employees and managers can take proactive steps to keep rumors and inappropriate gossip to a minimum. Here are some best practices worth implementing:

Make expectations clear through policies and codes of conduct prohibiting harmful gossip.
Provide regular company updates and explanations of decisions to avoid information gaps.
Resolve conflicts, disputes, and misunderstandings quickly before they escalate.
Foster an inclusive culture where employees feel valued and trusted.
Intervene quickly at the first sign of malicious rumors before they spiral.
Have HR address troublesome gossip that persists despite interventions.
And model professional and supportive behavior from the top-down.

Gossip can quickly corrode company culture. But by taking preventative measures and addressing issues promptly and professionally when they emerge, leaders can cultivate workplaces based on mutual trust and respect.

Key Takeaways: Managing Gossip at Work

The key takeaways around addressing and preventing workplace gossip:

Lead by example and be inclusive. Avoid participating in gossip yourself.
Act quickly to dispel rumors before they spread. Seek leadership support.
Promote open communication and transparency from management.
Build strong teams and community. Foster empathy and care.
Confront gossip professionally, with calm and facts.
Make expectations clear. Intervene when issues emerge.

With dedication from both employees and management, even notorious company gossip mills can transform into professional environments where collaboration thrives.

how to deal with work gossip

The Harms Of Gossip

Gossiping can mean disaster for colleague relationships. As in life, trust is essential in any workplace. When someone spreads rumors or speaks negatively about others, it erodes trust. Worse still, it can easily lead to a hostile work environment. If you think co-workers and peers can’t create toxicity at the office, think again. If unaddressed, gossip leads to a lack of teamwork and a communication breakdown because colleagues feel the disrespect.

Additionally, gossip can harm the reputation of a company. For example, someone may share confidential information, which can result in the loss of business or even legal action. Once trust is broken, its hard to rebuild. In a toxic work environment, breaking social and group norms is much easier.

In addition to harming relationships and the company itself, gossiping leads to increased stress levels and negatively impacts the entire team. Its not just the responsibility of management to prevent gossip in the workplace. Everyone on the team contributes to creating a positive work culture. You build and maintain trust and foster a more collaborative environment by avoiding pointless and disrespectful chatter. Would you like people speaking about you behind your back?

In 2014, a massive data breach occurred at Sony Pictures, in which employees confidential emails and information were leaked to the public. The data breach was not directly caused by workplace gossip. However, many leaked emails contained negative comments, gossip, and rumors about colleagues and actors. The leaked emails also revealed a culture of discrimination at the company, which led to calls for action.

The fallout from the data breach included lawsuits, reputational damage and financial losses. Sony Pictures faced legal action from employees whose information was leaked. Further, the companys reputation was tarnished by the negative comments revealed in the leaked emails. The company also suffered financial losses due to the breach, including costs related to increased security measures, attorneys and lost revenue. This example shows that workplace gossip can have consequences beyond harming colleagues relationships.

How to Shut Down Toxic Talk & Gossip at Work | #culturedrop | Galen Emanuele

How to avoid workplace gossip?

Another great way to avoid workplace gossip is to take an active part in developing an inclusive work environment. This means you might behave in a way that makes everyone feel welcome and important. When meeting colleagues, coworkers or supervisors, be open-minded and treat everyone with care and respect.

What should I do if someone is gossiping at work?

Do your best to only speak positively about people at the workplace and try to avoid speaking about people’s personal lives, intimate relationships or social status at work. If someone at work attempts to gossip about another person, you can always kindly let them know that you don’t want to participate.

How do you deal with a gossiping colleague?

First, let the messenger of the gossip know you’ll be discussing it with the gossiping colleague. You may lose access to some information. But if your example positively influences others, you may gain a healthier workplace. Second, when you confront the person gossiping, focus first on the content of their gossip, rather than their method.

How to deal with office gossip before it starts?

Dealing with office gossip before it starts is best. Here are some simple steps you can take to address gossip in the office. The best way to tackle gossip is by preventing it. This can be done by discussing gossip openly in your general employee training.