by Allen Teal

Created on: March 10, 2009

People gossip in the workplace for the same reason that they gossip everyplace else. Gossip is a form of social bonding. It is also a way for some people to feel needed by their peer group. Language was developed so that people could exchange information and ideas. No where is the exchange of information, even if it is misinformation, exchanged more frequently than through office gossip.

Gossip has two aspects that make it important.

People like to hear new things. This makes the perfect breeding medium for gossip. Gossip has an aspect of telling. It also has another aspect that involves hearing. If either of these components are lacking, gossip does not happen. It is not fun to tell it if no one is listening. On the other hand, if no one is talking, there is nothing to hear. When people gossip in the workplace, there are always people eager to tell and others just as eager to hear.

Gossip is a way of informing the workforce.

Some companies actually depend on employee gossip as an informal way to disseminate information. Information is "leaked" in a few departments and makes the rounds of the entire company through the gossip grape vine. By doing it this way, employers can measure the affect that a contemplated change might have on the workers without implementing it. If it is favorable received, most of the time office gossip becomes a reality. If there is strong resistance, it will usually be modified or scrapped.

Gossip can mean power.

The person with the scoop is the one who everyone seeks for information. This gives the gossip power in the company for as long as their information is the hot item. They become the leading workplace authority on the topic. It might be a recent scandal, illness, firing, or accident. If the gossip has the facts, people will eventually come their direction to make sure that they get the whole story.

Gossip can be used like currency.

If you want to know something from the office gossip, it will usually cost you information. The best gossips know how to barter what they know for what they want to know. In doing it this way, it assures them a steady stream of fresh gossip and increases their value in their social group. People who deal in gossip are often careful to only reveal enough of what they know to persuade the other person to tell their secrets.

People who share common information become closer.

Gossip is a way for workplace friendships to form. It also can improve morale as people in the gossip loop feel a sense of belonging in

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