10 Effective Ways to Deal with Gossip at Work

Gossiping is in our human nature, and in every organization, you can always find people who love to speculate about other coworkers at work. 96% of employees admit to engaging in gossip at work. Although most gossipers do not have ill intentions, a gossiping culture can be bad for the company.

When this gossiping develops into rumourmongering or outright lying, office gossip has the capacity to destroy reputations and careers.

Team cohesion, employee morale, and output may all also suffer as a result of this negativity.

How To Deal With Gossip At Work

Depending on the severity, the different ways of dealing with gossip at work can range from a simple reminder to a warning letter to the termination of a bad employee.

• Employees can deal with workplace gossip by addressing the issue with an instigator.
• If nothing improves, the employee may also report the gossip to a supervisor.
• Managers, or those in charge of the workspace, can also address gossip issues with team meetings or by terminating those responsible.

Enacting a zero-tolerance gossip/bullying policy, encouraging positivity, and improving the overall productivity and morale of the company.

Here are the few most effective ways you can deal with a gossiper at work.

1. Try to Stay Busy

One of the best ways to deal with gossip at work is to simply try to stay busy and avoid being sucked into the drama.

For example, focusing on completing your own job successfully at work should take up the majority of your time at work- after all, you are paid to accomplish certain tasks! Unfortunately, if you engage in gossip and other unpleasant behaviour, you will also gain a reputation for being unfavourable.

2. Avoid the Gossip

It probably seems quite apparent, but sometimes the best course of action is to simply stop listening to workplace gossip.

Another way to avoid gossip is to make sure that you don’t spread a juicy story if it is given to you by someone else.

For example, in order to avoid finding yourself caught in a conversation where coworkers are gossiping, employ a method to leave without giving any visible cues that you are interested in listening. 

Unfortunately, although it may seem simple to some, we occasionally forget that we have the power to physically seek to steer clear of environments (and people) that encourage this kind of behaviour.

Although it might also be challenging to stop office rumours, you can, however, control how you respond to them.

3. Encourage Positivity

Spreading unfavourable rumours is less enjoyable when they are tainted by positive remarks about the target of the assault. Therefore, if you are trying to avoid workplace gossip, make a point to say nice things and turn the situation around when faced with coworkers attempting to gossip. 

By doing this, you will undoubtedly stop the rumour and maybe alter the topic of the conversation altogether.

For example, Positive anecdotes about work, customers, and culture should be shared in order to combat bad rumours. 

4. Address the Issue With the Perpetrators

When we hear gossip in the workplace, it can sometimes be quite personal and upsetting. If this is the case, you may want to directly address the issue yourself.

You can do this by kindly asking the person who is spreading the gossip to have a private conversation with you.  

You will need to be straightforward if you actually want to portray yourself as someone who doesn’t enjoy workplace gossip or if you’re dealing with habitual gossip. To convey your disapproval, you will also need to think about what you wish to say to the instigator. 

Although it may seem unpleasant, by stating your stance, your co-worker is more likely to find another person to complain to.

Take note that this method will need some bravery. But, if you confront the primary offenders one-on-one in a neutral, more secluded area or office so that others cannot listen, they may converse with you on a more equal level. 

Overall, the goal here is not to engage in a verbal brawl, but rather to diplomatically show via concrete instances how your colleague’s actions are interfering with and interrupting productivity.

5. Report the Gossip to Someone With Workplace Authority

While gossip is a diversion at work, if it crosses the line into harassment, it can also, unfortunately, have a more sinister effect. This is the reason why most organizations explicitly forbid harassment and make this quite apparent in all their employee handbooks. 

As a result, if you find that you are continuously facing workplace gossip that you can’t resolve on your own, make sure to document it and don’t be afraid to contact HR.

Anyone facing workplace gossip should also be informing their manager or boss. 

Now that the problem has been identified, if your management team supports a great workplace, they have to handle it in a way that not only strengthens but promotes positive workplace culture.

6. Set an Example

Another great way to deal with workplace gossip is by setting an example and being a role model.

For instance, try setting a positive example for others to follow by refraining from gossip. When the chatter starts, act assertively, leave the room, or change the subject.

By acting like a leader in these situations, you’re sending the message to others that the conduct won’t be accepted.

Another great way to set an example is to never engage in workplace gossip in the first place.

For instance, wherever possible, keep private information to yourself and avoid sharing it with coworkers unless you are quite positive that you can trust them. 

Keep working hard and occupied after that. 

7. Addressing Gossip with Team Meetings

If you’re a manager, or responsible for the environment in which your staff operates, it may be essential for you to bring up the subject of gossip in a staff meeting in order to nit the problem in the butt.

However, to only address the issue of gossiping in this meeting, not the actual topic of gossip that is being spread around the office.

For example, once the team is assembled, establishing a healthier work environment can begin with a discussion of the negative effects of gossip and an explanation of why it can be harmful. 

These meetings can either take place regularly in order to remind the staff of the dangers of workplace gossip or only take place when required.

These meetings are essential in order to address workplace gossip appropriately and as a team. 

8. Enact a Zero-Tolerance Gossip/Bullying Policy

Managers can also deal with workplace gossip by implementing a “zero-tolerance” policy.

For example, many businesses have policies that prevent workers from sharing private information with outside parties. 

For instance, when these policies are put in place, any employee may be subject to disciplinary action or even termination if they reveal privileged information that sparks workplace rumours about a worker.

9. Take Documented Action

Documentation is included with the zero-tolerance policy. For instance, when dealing with workplace gossiping issues, it is essential that all grievances are recorded. 

Make sure to note as well if the gossiping is harming productivity at the office.

For example, if the gossip fosters a hostile environment and lower morale- Record it! 

Overall, this documentation is essential. For instance, if the problem continues, you’re going to want to treat the perpetrator like you would any other tough worker.

This means that, if it comes the time to fire them as a result of their gossiping, your choice is also supported by strong evidence.

10. Consider the Termination of Any Gossip Perpetrators

In order to maintain a positive and just workplace atmosphere, sometimes it may, unfortunately, be necessary to terminate any employee that takes part in any gossiping behaviours. 

It is also important to note as an employee that most employers in the private sector reserve the right to end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior warning. Therefore, the employer is exempt from having to show that workplace rumours about her boss are untrue. 

As a result, an employee can and will be fired without cause just for interfering with production and running the risk of ruining her boss’s reputation. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid workplace gossip and drama at all costs if you want to perform as a model employee.

How to Prevent Workplace Drama?

The golden rule to avoid and prevent workplace gossip and drama is to never share personal information with coworkers that might be used as gossip unless you are very convinced that you can trust them. 

Simply, keep your personal life to yourself.

For instance, sometimes it is better if your coworkers only know just enough about you to get along with you but not so much that any knowledge, they have could prevent you from moving up or advancing in your field. 

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