Office gossip: what to avoid

What effect does office gossip have and what are its repercussions? Before considering this subject it is wise to make a distinction between innocent gossip and malicious gossip: the former is merely talking about someone, while the latter involves the malicious intent to undermine a specific individual’s credibility.

Although spreading malicious gossip may occasionally seem like fun, when it concerns friends, relatives, colleagues or bosses there is always a risk that you will be found out and then paid back in kind. In brief, you might say that it all depends on your approach and the nature of the relationship between the two people involved in the conversation:

• If the person you are talking to is a close confidante, a gossip session won’t cause any problems;
• But when the relationship with that person is less than idyllic you are running a considerable risk.

Studies by a Dutch researcher show that the occasional healthy gossip can increase the likelihood of building long-lasting friendships, because those involved in the conversation become ‘partners in crime’. In addition, their sense of camaraderie grows.

All this is possible provided that neither of the individuals involved overdoes it: any excesses might lead to exasperation among other team members to the point that they disassociate themselves. This will result in the individual becoming isolated, marginalised and excluded from the rest of the group.

Of course, office gossip always provides a bit of a thrill, but it must be done in moderation and only in the company of totally trusted colleagues.  This is particularly true in the case of those who like to indulge in nasty gossip, because if the gossip is not intended to cause harm, it doesn’t matter if the speaker doesn’t completely trust those listening.

In brief, we can conclude that gossiping about colleagues, whether innocently or not, is certainly no crime, but it is essential to take great care about how it is done and what is said. If, for example, something is said about the boss, make sure that it’s not too nasty a comment and that it won’t cause an unpleasant boomerang effect.

The occasional gossip session in the office is not a crime, but be careful how you behave towards the person who is the subject of the gossip as well as towards your ‘partners in crime’.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith