Trending post
Bill Branstetter
Bullet point
Follow
Director of Recruiting, 9th Way Insignia

If you've ever worked in an environment where one person is constantly talking about others behind their backs, you know how devastating that can be to morale and to the company culture. How would you respond to such a person? Ignore them, confront them, bring your concerns to management?

#advice #motivation #worklife

18
18 Answers
over 1 year ago
Like
Answer
Share
Hanan Almoustafa
Bullet point
Follow
Top Answer
2 people found this answer helpful
Registered Nurse at University hospital

I want to talking with them alone and give education stop talking to another's,we are a team work ,w must respect another's

2y
2
Reply
2 Marked Helpful
Jerilyn Brown
Bullet point
Follow
Stellar Guest Services Advocate

I have to handle this very differently now than I did when I was management. It has always been my habit to deal directly with gossipers to address their behavior and ensure they understood the meaning of "toxic work environment" and our HR policies and ensure they understood that they had a choice regarding their behavior and interactions with their coworkers and would be held accountable. This included social media gossip and harassment which was occasionally a thing that happened as they all knew each other outside of work & had for many years. Conversely, we also discussed genuinely how being the topic of workplace gossip would affect them and how they would want it handled. It usually staunched the negative behavior. I told them if they had issues or needed to vent that I had an open door policy, ensured confidentiality and would be happy to help them work through any work place issues.

Now that I work as a team member, I have confronted 2 coworkers and explained to them that I enjoy working together with everyone on the team & am not comfortable with them gossiping about others and that toxic behavior like that puts them in a very negative light and I would hate to see them alienated from a pretty great team dynamic. I am very friendly and caring in these conversations and once they got over their surprise at being called out (one on one, in private) they have changed their ways.

I also am certain never to overshare or blur the boundaries between being a coworker vs a friend.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
See all replies
Mike Davis
Bullet point
Follow
Information Technology Project Manager at Army Futures Command.

Document, document, document.

If this does not capture the essence of an hostile work environment, I'm not sure what does.

If you are a supervisor, pull people aside and at least chat with them. Council if you need to.

Undercutting serves zero purpose in the workplace.

Go to the gym. Have a beer. Eat a grilled cheese. Find a new hobby.

Large workplaces are like crabs in a bucket (look it up if you need to), but people are complicated and we can never get along all of the time.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
Chris Elliott
Bullet point
Follow
Director at Listening Heart Center

I would personally approach the individual and express that gossip only produces a negative environment. As an HR director I have sent out company emails and had company wide meeting addressing gossip and how destructive it can be.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
sunilkumar rajendranpillai
Bullet point
Follow
Heavy Driver at Horizon Event Management In Qatar

Good morning sir. I will never go back to any gossip, because first I want to my driving in carefully and safely. And second thing, if I go back this gossip, I will never take care kids and family. If I will heare any gossip I leave that one ear to another ear.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
Scott Silvers
Bullet point
Follow
Until it is done, it will remain undone...

@Bill Branstetter, what I do when someone begins to talk about someone in a negative way without the person being present is say, "Well, let's go get them and we can all talk about it and figure it out."

It can upset the one gossiping, but he or she will respect me because it shows them I won't talk about them behind their back either.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
See all replies
Bullet point
Follow

Every situation is different depending on your position. Non supervisory role, I sit and observe people, if there conversations are trouble I don't necessarily make myself available (breaks, lunch, b4 work stuff) I'm not there for that. Supervisor role, personally, I used to 1st thing, above all else inform my crew that it's unacceptable. If I get wind that it's happening we're going a crappy conversation, so just don't do it.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
Linda Gilbert
Bullet point
Follow
Administrative Assistant I at Aspen Of Dc

yes you must go to management and also tell the person that you don't want to hear about someone else. What about the person they are gossip about and their feelings. The person might not want to let everyone know their personal business.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
Jose Pena
Bullet point
Follow
Educator

Sometimes, it is best to simply not gossip and to stay way from the office politics.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
Monica Ortega
Bullet point
Follow
Field Support Specialist at Aptive Environmental

You don't, what people say, think, or talk about me, or anyone else for that matter is none of my business. Engaging in these types of conversations only encourages this type of behavior. So the best would be to not part take and keep working. We are not getting paid to socialize we are there to perform our duties. Save that for when you leave the office we will all be better off.

2y
1
Reply
1 Marked Helpful
See more answers
Add