When talking to training participants I often ask, 'who gossips at work?', about half of the room usually put up their hands and there are cries of 'doesn't everyone?', and 'you can't help it, it's normal'.

The Wikipedia definition of gossip is: 'Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tatting'. My question at this point is how is gossip EVER useful or necessary?

This quote from Lieutenant General David Morrison; 'The standard you walk past is the standard you accept', is something for us all to keep in mind. If I accept gossip about someone else, am I essentially giving my approval for gossip to be said about me and/or often used against me?

The perfect storm for problems with workplace relationships starts with: high job demands, limited job control, organisational change and lack or resources – these are all factors for most workplaces at some time. It is the people in the workplace that then have the potential to escalate that stormy workplace climate from a rainstorm to a hurricane. Regardless of whether those involved in workplace gossip believe it is 'harmless fun' or if they mean it to be malicious, a culture of gossip is not a culture of trust and safety, and EVERYONE in a workplace is entitled to a safe environment.  

People can choose to engage in gossip and other harmful behaviours or they can choose to engage in respect.

One of our most basic human needs is the need for respect and there is no respect in gossip.

We're all responsible for our workplace culture; I expect respect from my colleagues and they should expect it from me.

Respect at Work facilitates discussions about respectful workplace behaviours, please get in touch if we can be of assistance for your workplace.