by Gabriella Samms

Created on: November 24, 2007   Last Updated: December 11, 2009

Both, or either of these character flaws in a co-worker means that you are dealing with someone that is out for themselves.

The tattletale wants to prove to their supervisor or employer that they are looking out for the company, thinking that by snitching on others makes them a valued employee. The gossip is just a snake in disguise: they will befriend you, then stab you, and they cause the most animosity in a workplace.

The fact is that neither type of these individuals feel good about themselves.

The tattletale has never grown up. This characteristic flaw has been instilled in them long before they were ever able to secure or maintain a job. They are part of what is commonly know as the "brown noser", which in itself, has many faces. The tattletale will lay in wait until you do something wrong, or something they believe is wrong, and share their story with the first person above them on the ladder of command. They are annoying individuals because they can't rationalize what is truly a wrongdoing vs. and error. Consequently, they waste valuable time spilling their guts about every single thing in the office that is not performed in the way they believe it should be. They're child-like, and should be kept behind a desk, far from public interaction.

The office gossip can be quite dangerous. They are responsible for making life miserable at work by destroying relationships, and making others question their ability to trust anyone. The office gossip truly has an identity problem. They often feel that others are back-stabbing them so in turn they do the same. The gossip also knows their own flaw and believe that since they possess the characteristic - others must too. They gossip about co-workers because by doing so they feel better about themselves. They are insecure, and need to damage the reputation of another to build their own.

I can deal with a tattletale because I've raised children. A gossip is someone whom I stay far away from. If you even so much as allow the gossip to share a story with you, you are now considered involved. The best thing to do is make it very clear upfront, to every employee you work with, that you will not engage in or be part of office gossip. This not only lets others know you can be trusted, but you'll also be protected from being considered one of "them".

Employers need to protect the work environment from these types of people. They create a hostile, unproductive arena of mistrust and animosity. No one can work happily together when these types of people are present on the job.

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