by Danette M. Scott

Created on: October 04, 2007

The more annoying co-worker: The tattletale or the gossip.

The workplace tattletale is certainly more annoying than the gossip when it pertains to co-workers. Tattletales are often bullies out to earn a promotion at their co-workers expense. More often than not a tattletale is a controlling narcissistic person who believes that everyone in the workplace should be put in their place and that they are specially privileged to be the one at the top.

Tattletales are much more annoying than gossips because they seek out mistakes,shortcomings and minor flaws in co-workers with the intent of controlling them or having them fired. Gossips merely repeat stories which can be true or untrue about others out of boredom or amusement. Gossips do not maliciously attempt to harm others by gossiping although this may sometimes occur.

People who constantly tattle on others for minor violations in the workplace have malicious intent. Tattlers are either seeking to control their co-workers by creating a climate of fear or attempting to have a co-worker fired that they do not like. Tattletales believe that their own mistakes and shortcomings are too minor to be even mentioned by others.

Gossips lack the intent and controlling behavior that tattletales do. Tattletales can create hostile work environments,climates of fear, and feelings of mistrust for co-workers. The more annoying and worrisome co-worker is definitely the workplace tattletale.

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