How to Handle Coworker Gossip

Everyone has worked in a job where someone gossips. The intensity of the gossip can vary from minor dating gossip to cheating, theft or abuse accusations that can literally destroy someone's life. The way to handle coworker gossip depends on the situation. Follow these steps to handle it appropriately.

Instructions

1. Stay out of the gossip. Remember that saying the wrong thing can cause you to end up in court facing a slander suit. You also do not want to be the person in the office that everyone refers to as a "gossiper."

2. Approach the person who is gossiping and remind them that they can end up in court or ruin somebody's career. Remind the person that workplace gossip is inappropriate and it really makes the workplace uncomfortable and unproductive.

3. Investigate to find the culprit of the gossip. Sometimes gossip can wrap around the office so many times you don't even know where it began. Approach them and bring what they are doing to their attention because a lot of times people do not realize what they have done.

4. Bring in the bosses if necessary. If the gossip has gotten beyond the petty stage to the point that someone's quality of life or work is threatened, then it is time to bring it to the attention of the higher-ups. Nobody should have to work in an environment like that.

5. Change jobs. Some offices really are just a lot worse than others depending on how upper management handles gossip situations.