As a small business owner, you probably have close relationships with your employees and managers. So, when you hear a rumor about them or get annoyed about something they did, it can be tempting to share it with others, but doing so can be detrimental to your business.
Workplace gossip, which can refer to sharing personal details about someone or false information, tends to be widespread. A survey of 1,000 U.S. workers by LiveCareer found that 58% of employees hear gossip weekly, and 30% hear it daily.
All this chatter impacts employee trust, morale, career growth, and company culture, the report found. Here’s a look at how gossip may be affecting your business and how to cut the habit.
The gossip problem
Employee performance is usually the main topic of gossip. According to LiveCareer, 55% of employees said the gossip they hear revolves around a colleague’s work and the possibility of promotion. Coworkers’ personal lives are another common topic.
Most gossip happens in common areas, with 48% mostly hearing it in break rooms or shared spaces. One-on-one conversations (36%) and after-work social gatherings (10%) are also common places of gossip.
Employees of all levels, including owners, get involved. More than half said mid-level employees were the biggest gossips, while 6% said it was senior leadership.
The effects of gossip
Workplace gossip is common—43% said they’ve been the subject of it themselves, and 20% said they’ve spread gossip that later turned out to be untrue. And, 12% said they didn’t regret sharing gossip that was false.
“Workplace gossip is more than just idle chatter,” the report noted. It can negatively affect company culture.
A lack of clear and open communication can fuel gossip — when employees feel like they lack the information they need, they may turn to informal channels to get it...
Among employees, 47% said workplace gossip fuels tension and distrust, and 47% said they don’t trust their coworkers with confidential information.
About half of respondents said gossip harms morale, and 39% said it negatively influences career progression.
How to stop workplace gossip
Many employees at all levels have been the victims and perpetrators of gossip. This can influence how they interact by hindering collaboration and diminishing trust, and it can create a toxic work environment where morale is low.
But there are some ways to stop the gossip:
- Model appropriate behavior. As a business owner and leader, don’t gossip, no matter how tempting it is. Modeling no-gossip behavior sets the example for the rest of your team not to do it either.
- Create consistent communication channels. A lack of clear and open communication can fuel gossip—when employees feel like they lack the information they need, they may turn to informal channels to get it, according to a Forbes article. Keep employees up-to-date on company news, changes, and developments via reliable channels, like newsletters, emails, meetings, or Slack.
- Promote a positive work environment. Create a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and respected. Recognize and celebrate achievements. When employees feel a sense of belonging, they’ll likely be less inclined to spread rumors or talk about others.
- Offer training. If you notice ongoing conflict between employees or that gossip is a problem, provide training and guidance on handling disagreements and conflict resolution appropriately.
- Create gossip policies. Establish clear policies for employee conduct and communication that include gossip and the consequences of spreading it. However, the policy should be clear that it’s not limiting employees’ rights to talk about wages, hours, or working conditions, but about non–work-related issues, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.
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