Gossip in the Workplace

It’s only natural for employees to get to know each other. In fact, it’s great for business if your staff members get along. But over time, workplace gossip can start to rear its ugly head.

Gossip might seem harmless at first—a quick chat at the water cooler, a whispered conversation in the break room. But when left unchecked, workplace gossip can spiral into something far more damaging.

Especially in the digital age where gossip can spread faster via e-mail, text, and social media. Gossip at work can ruin productivity, spread paranoia, and hinder your ongoing success.

So, in this guide we’ll take a look at how you can stamp out needless conversation to steer clear of any trouble.

Why workplace gossip happens?

Understanding why gossip happens in the first step to addressing it. And gossip thrives in workplaces for several reasons:

• Lack of communication

• Unresolved tensions and conflicts

• Low morale

• Unclear policies

The impact of workplace gossip

Your employees do have freedom of speech at work. But the problem is idle chitchat can sometimes turn nasty. If staff members resort to gossiping, it can get malicious. The intent of your employees isn’t always to stir up trouble. But chatter does have a habit of invading other employees’ privacy.

For example, you hear on the grapevine news about the business’s future, if someone is getting fired, or rumours about how Friday night drinks went wrong.

Despite the potential for trouble, you must remember that there’s such a thing as harmless discussions between staff members. Playful conversation can benefit your organisation. You do want your staff members to get along, after all. And if you can build positive relationships that helps colleagues bond, then that’s only a good thing for your business.

This makes it important to maintain a balance between fun discussion and conversations that damage reputations. This is because gossip often takes a story, or partial truth, and creates unrealistic and damaging speculation.

The effects of gossip can ripple through your business in unexpected ways, such as:

• Destroy trust levels

• Lowers morale

• Reduces productivity

• Creates conflict and tension

• Undermines authority and credibility

• Creates toxic workplace culture

• Increases changes of high staff turnover

By addressing gossip early, you can mitigate these negative outcomes. So, how can you go about making sure you stop malicious gossip in the workplace?

How to manage gossip in the workplace

Start by fostering a culture of transparency and respect, where employees feel comfortable addressing concerns directly rather than through informal chatter. Encourage open communication through regular meetings and feedback sessions, ensuring employees have a constructive outlet for their frustrations or ideas.

Just remember, while you want to create an open, supportive environment, it’s also essential to set boundaries. Make it clear that gossiping isn’t acceptable behaviour and outline the consequences.

If gossip becomes disruptive, address it promptly and privately with those involved, focusing on how it affects the team rather than assigning blame. Training managers to identify and handle gossip sensitively can also help maintain a positive atmosphere.

Finally, lead by example—modelling respectful communication and shutting down gossip when you hear it sends a clear message about the behaviour you expect in the workplace.

But what if that doesn’t work?

So, you’ve done everything you can to manage gossip in your business. And employees are still talking behind each other’s backs with wild abandon, right? Sometimes stopping gossip in the workplace is tricky.

All it takes is a lazy Friday afternoon and tongues can wag—before you know it, one employee is the target of a malicious rumour.

Dealing with gossip in the workplace can involve personal development opportunities. This can involve:

Training all staff

You can train your managers or your employees about the negative impacts. In the long-term, this can reduce the chances of it occurring as your organisation makes it clear how damaging it is.

Using team building activities

To stop gossip, you need staff members to get along. Activities that require cooperation are an effective option, as they encourage employees to get to know, and trust, each other.

Regular check-ins

One to one meetings once a week, as well as team meetings, are useful—your team can air any concerns they have. This can be part of your openness policy to encourage a better business culture.

Providing warnings

 Hand out verbal and written warnings to anyone who continues to gossip. You can also fire someone if they continue to breach these rules, which makes a clear statement about your intent.

Implementing an open plan office

Finally, consider an open plan office. If your staff members are in secretive alcoves, then it’s a breeding ground for idle chitchat. But if everyone is in full view of each other, then you can benefit from more open communication possibilities.

When should you take action for gossip at work?

If you think the effects of gossip in the workplace are getting out of hand, then you can take action. You should act when the gossip:

• Damages employees’ relationships

• Harms individual reputations

• Undermines leadership

• Is discriminatory, intimidating or a form of personal attack

• A privacy concern

• Distracts from work

• Creates a toxic environment

If any of the above are taking place, then you can step in with the appropriate actions. Gossip at work is harassment. So, you have various options available to stamp it out.

You can choose a written or verbal warning. Or, if the situation demands it, you can begin disciplinary proceedings. Of course, the most extreme action you can take is to fire the person.

It's always best practice to seek professional HR advice if you are unsure.

Your employer responsibility in tackling gossip

As an employer, your influence shapes workplace culture. By fostering transparency, respect, and open communication, you can create an environment where gossip has no room to grow. The key is to address issues early, lead by example, and continuously reinforce the importance of a positive workplace.

Remember, a little effort to curb gossip today can lead to a more harmonious, productive workplace tomorrow. And when employees feel heard, respected, and included, they’re far less likely to engage in harmful behaviour.

Need more help?

Having issues with gossip in your workplace? We can help. Get in touch today for expert advice: 0800 470 2432.