Is it bad to spread rumors in the workplace?
Is it bad to spread rumors in the workplace?
Spreading rumors about coworkers is inadvisable, generally — for one thing, your coworkers won’t like or trust you. Worse, at a certain point, a negative rumor about a coworker can get you sued. In civil law, there are four characteristics of negative statements.
What happens when Employees gossip in the workplace?
Finally, your employees’ gossip may be directed at your organization itself rather than at specific coworkers. Workplace gossip may cause miscommunications or misunderstandings, which in turn could lead to missed deadlines, work errors, and unhappy clients and customers.
Why do people get upset about office rumors?
Johann Berlin, CEO of TLEX Institute, observes that “because these kinds of situations seem unfair, you feel powerless and can lose sight of the big picture. You either want to fight or you shut down. In other words, you’re either angry or you’re depressed or ashamed.
Why do we take rumors about others so seriously?
Research by Stanford University professor Robb Willer shows that we take negative gossip about others seriously. We view it as useful information that can protect us. The result — if someone spreads false rumors about you — is that it’s hard to shake off that reputation.
What happens if you spread rumors in the workplace?
In the case of our letter-writer, he claims to be shunned by peers as a result of these rumors, which reach all the way to senior management. If this same employee was passed over for a promotion or a raise, the guilty parties could face some hefty specific damages.
What happens if someone gossips in the workplace?
Many companies protect employees from disclosing sensitive information to others. If, for example, a manager discloses confidential information that leads to workplace gossip about an employee, that manager faces the risk of disciplinary action or even termination.
What to do about hurtful rumors at work?
If you are facing hurtful rumors at work, you’ll need to use skills of emotional intelligence to avoid making the situation any worse – and ideally, to make the situation better. 1) Regulate your negative emotions. There is only so much you can do about the situations you face, but there is a lot you can do about how you respond to it.
Research by Stanford University professor Robb Willer shows that we take negative gossip about others seriously. We view it as useful information that can protect us. The result — if someone spreads false rumors about you — is that it’s hard to shake off that reputation.