Tattletale

by Eugene G.

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 29, 2012

The tattletale and the gossip can both be considered a workplace nuisance. While the gossip can cause quite a stir in the office, nothing can beat the theatrics of the tattletale.

The gossip can be a colleague, bad boss, or even a member of another team. It's almost as if they are a politician on the campaign trail digging up dirt to win the support of other colleagues. They try to damage your reputation by spreading rumors. These individuals are always looking for some type of edge and may be trying to sabotage someone's career. A gossip will jump at the opportunity to meet with male and female colleagues across an organization hoping to find a juicy tidbit that will jeopardize someone's chances at landing key projects or positions within the company. More often than not, they will have their facts backwards and twist stories around in their favor.

However, the gossip only maintains power if other individuals choose to believe the tall tales. If the person spreading the rumors develops a reputation for being a gossip, they will be viewed as "the man or woman who cries wolf" all the time. Eventually the gossip will lose all credibility with their team and other colleagues in the company.

The tattletale takes annoyance to a whole new level. When you think of the office tattletale, do you see an image of a child who runs and tells the teacher on you at a moment’s notice - only bigger, older and more annoying? Just like a chameleon, they can take on many forms in the workplace. There are "good" tattletales and "bad" tattletales. The "good" tattletales are individuals who are interested in doing the right thing. By that I mean they are more interested in making an ethical decision and maintaining the integrity of the company. These are workers who will report someone if they see an illegal act in the workplace (such as drug activity, company theft, sexual harassment).

The "bad" tattletales are selfish and will not hesitate to report you to the boss. It's as if they expect to be rewarded for relaying information that may possibly get a fellow colleague in trouble. They watch and probe around the office like organizational spies dispatched to find incriminating information. If you are late to the office, or a meeting, they will tell the boss. If you return from your lunch hour a few minutes late, they will tell the boss. If you dislike someone in the office, they will tell the boss. If you dislike the boss, they will definitely tell the boss.

Moreover, the "bad" tattletale wears a good poker face. He or she can be very nice to your face, but looks can be deceiving. They will gather information about you - only to use it against you. The more they learn (good or bad) - the more they will tell the boss. They will learn your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. As the tattletale reveals more and more to the boss, they will not stop there. Eventually they will morph into a gossip and begin blabbing things about you to everyone else.

Remember - in the workplace "the walls have ears and eyes." You must be very careful of your actions around other people. Think of yourself as James Bond because there are any number of tattletales/organizational spies (within and outside of your team) that are waiting to tell bosses about your actions. The same person who you chat with at the water cooler every day can be the same individual to stab you in the back. You have to be very careful about what you say - and to whom you say it. Keep in mind that bosses can dispatch direct reports for information. If you say or do one negative thing, that direct report will tell everything to the boss and many more individuals in the company. That will begin the framework for your slow demise.

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