by Galen Daugherty

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 08, 2008

Work Place Gossip: What it Is and Will Be (and How not to be part of it!)

Gossip: What it is

Gossip is a workplace parasite, and there is no such thing as positive gossip. It is condemned throughout history and, is condemned by the worlds 3 major religions. Islam equivalates gossip as "eating the flesh of one's dead brother; gossip harms it's victims without the chance to defend oneself, just as "dead people can not defend against their flesh being eaten". Christianity states gossip is "worthy of death" (Romans 1:28-32), and Judaism states that gossip, or "Lashon hara" (evil tounge), demeans both the subject and the teller.

As entertaining and sensational as giving into gossip may seem, many employers have policy's against gossip. Gossip has an unforscene effect, and the most miniscule morsel of "Juicy Gossip" can have a snowball effect that turns the entire workplace completely upside down.

Recently, I was approach by a younger female co-worker who wanted to question my dealings with another co-worker, stating that she "over heard" me saying something about distancing myself from someone, and was told by "someone else" that I was "upset with" the other co-worker. I know that on my end, this supposed conversation she "over heard", never took place. Weather or not some one said something to her, is up for debate. The truth is, I've been very busy at work, and haven't had time to converse with my co-workers like I usually do. When you brake it down, it's pretty simple: Work is busy, I don't' have the same time I had a few weeks ago. What gossip turned it into, was completely untrue and insulting. A tree trunk bore many branches of words, and each branch bearing many leafs of speculation, with the end result being entertaining and sensational fruit with a bitter taste and poisonous effect.

Office gossip is deceitful, painful and overall unnecessary. Usually the "Chatty Cathy's" and "Loud-Mouth Louie's" give themselve away pretty quickly; gossip usually has a familiar source, but is sometimes spread by not so familiar people, sometimes without malicious intent. Please try to remember, all gossip is malicious. It's easy to avoid office gossip, mostly by staying clear of as much as possible. If you do overhear it, keep your mouth shut! Gossip is usually untrue, and if there is some semi-truth to it, it's probably none of you or the gossipers business. I do understand it can be hard to stay away from it, most of us spend more time at work then we do at home. We have a

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