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Is there a lot of gossip where you work? How do you deal with it?”

Asked by The Work It, Mom! Team on 7th January 2008

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OMG! this is the very reason i dread going to work somedays. I work in a medical office, and that office contains 60 women. Now in the south, gossip is not gossip, it's "just what someone heard," or "well i'm not gossiping if it's true." I try my hardest to stay in my little area and try not to include myself in any of the conversation, but sometimes, you just can't avoid it. It's like a tractor coming straight for you and you can't get out of the way fast enough. eventually you're gonna get sucked in whether you like it or not. So i try an hold my tongue as much as possible and not say anything judgemental about anyone. "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Flag as inappropriate Posted by babs on 4th February 2008
My favorite bit of office gossip was about me and my husband. Wwe work for the same company, but in different departments, and I didn't take his name when we got married 5 years ago. We had gone up to the cafeteria for cup of coffee and my husband returned to his office while I went to get a cookie to take back to my desk. One of his co-workers (who was kind of new and didn't know me) pulled me aside and said, very quietly and seriously, "You should probably know that he's married..." I just told her that it was OK, I knew his wife VERY well...

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 11th January 2008
There is a lot of gossip. Sometimes they are true and sometimes false. It would bother me if its going to hurt my job, but otherwise I dont bother. You cannot stop people talking thats how the world is. My opinion :)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mamtha on 11th January 2008
Not directly in my department, no. However in other departments (in other buildings), it is terrible! Our company has 3 seperate buildings and one is notorious for it's gossiping hens.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by The Tattooed Mommie on 11th January 2008
That depends. Are you defining gossip as lies about other people or opinions about other people? Lies? No, I don't believe there is any of that going on. Do people share their opinions about others in the workplace? Without a doubt.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KathyHowe on 10th January 2008
lol our company goes through phases. unfortunatly most of the 'gossip' has a lot more truth - this project is going to get killed for xyz reason, that department is going to reorg soon, this person is going to retire, etc. not so much of the 'omg did you see what so and so wore' or 'boss only has his job because he is wife is so-and-so' etc. THANK GOODNESS! i have worked in those places, yuck! i delt with it by leaving :) ha!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 8th January 2008
OMG, YES! My bosses gossip about each other. My colleagues gossip about each other AND the bosses. The office staff gossips about everyone. I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! It was almost like culture shock when I returned from maternity leave, because I re-entered shark-infested waters. Occasionally, I've found myself gossiping with them ... but I was REALLY unhappy, and so have learned to close the door ... and my ears. So, I tend to be "out of the loop" and I LOVE it that way.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KC on 8th January 2008