Search Helium

Home > Jobs & Careers > Managing Your Career > Office Politics

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

Results so far:

Tattletale
62% 937 votes Total: 1521 votes
Gossip
38% 584 votes

by TJ Henderson

Created on: December 04, 2007   Last Updated: December 19, 2007

From an employers point of view, tattletales are much more annoying in addition to adding to the normal stress of the workplace environment. Their apparent self proclaimed importance and unsolicited information places them in the position of judge, jury and hangman. It is beyond annoying, it is destructive, both for their future in the company and for the effectiveness of the workplace in general.

There will, unfortunately, always be those few individuals who feel it is their duty to keep running to the boss, informing them of what they feel to be important information that apparently the boss doesn't know about, but should. Don't get me wrong, there are times when important things do happen that do not get noticed. Those are welcomed. However, the truly important pieces of information are not what I'm referring to. It's the petty, insignificant details of the day, the things that will eventually and naturally occur when there are people working side by side in the same office space. Those are not necessary to report,they are actually a waste of time for both the employer and the employee, taking each away from important duties. By placing themselves, unrequested in the place of unauthorized office monitor, tattler's diminish their worth in the eyes of their employers, waste their time and put undue stress where there is already too much.

Employers sometimes choose to overlook minor indiscretions to accomplish the overall larger picture of production. When it is in our face constantly, through the glaring eyes of an employee, piercing us with the "what are you going to do about that?" glare ... it puts us in a very stressful, unnecessary and exceedingly ungrateful situation.

The pettiness and stress this causes the employer places the tattletale in an invaluable light, probably not the place they thought they are heading.

Our company is small and our workers, for the most part, like working there. However,at times, due to the behavior of a few, the normally enjoyable atmosphere of the office can turn sour as the decay of the tattler's pettiness spreads, affecting all those within reach. The tattletale would definitely increase their value to their company if they spent more time concentrating on their own duties and performing them in a professional manner. This would allow their employers more time to pay attention to running the company without spending time on their useless prattle and putting out the little fires of discord they spread.

So, tattletales beware! You may feel your information and actions are helping you move into the the inner circle of your boss. While in reality you are placing yourself on a shaky foundation, destroying your worth to the company and literally driving in that final nail in your own coffin of future employment.

Learn more about this author, TJ Henderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

269687

Featured Partner

Population Services International

PSI is a leading global health organization with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health. Working in partnership within the public and private sectors, and harnessing the power of markets, PSI provides lif...more


CONNECT WITH US

Read
our blog
Helum for writers

Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills

Join our active writing community
Helium Content Source for Publishers

Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all

Get custom content today!

INFORMATION


Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA