How to react to gossip?
24 June 2008
Read by 2490 persons
Text: "My colleagues love gossip. Most of the time, it's just harmless jokes, but increasingly, I find their comments about colleagues completely inappropriate. How should I react?"
ANSWER
We spend most of the day at work. It is normal that our exchanges are not limited to the strictly professional field. Casual conversations, during lunch breaks or coffee breaks, often have a beneficial effect and help to relax the atmosphere.
Consequences
When these jokes turn into gossip and unpleasant remarks, they can have serious consequences for the people involved and for the work atmosphere in general.
Gossip quickly takes on a life of its own and can, after a while, jeopardize the victim's position and job.
Furthermore, gossip is often a first step towards inappropriate behavior and moral harassment.
In other words, gossip is not without danger.
Intervene in time
By intervening early enough, that is, by nipping gossip in the bud, many problems can be avoided.
This is where managers can play an important role. It is essential that they take a clear position and make it known that gossip targeting colleagues is intolerable. For its part, each employee must do their part and refrain from gossiping in the workplace.
How to behave in the face of gossip?
If you are nevertheless confronted with gossip in your workplace, avoid taking part in it and let your colleagues know that you do not want to gossip about other colleagues in their absence.
Also be wary of stories that come to you "second-hand". Do not pass them on to other people and take them with a grain of salt. If the gossip concerns work or concerns you personally, try to verify its validity before drawing conclusions.
Relativize...
That said, the ability to relativize and common sense are not superfluous. Harmless jokes should be possible. Besides, the joker does not always notice that a colleague is offended by a joke or remark.
It is therefore preferable that you set your own limits when you feel that a colleague is overstepping them. Most of the time, this will be enough to put an end to the unwanted behavior.
Outside help
If you notice that a colleague has become the target of gossip and is suffering, encourage them to contact a trusted person or a prevention advisor responsible for psychosocial aspects at work.
These people will lend a listening ear, advise them and can, if necessary, act as a mediator between the parties concerned.
Posted on May 26, 2008
references.be
ANSWER
We spend most of the day at work. It is normal that our exchanges are not limited to the strictly professional field. Casual conversations, during lunch breaks or coffee breaks, often have a beneficial effect and help to relax the atmosphere.
Consequences
When these jokes turn into gossip and unpleasant remarks, they can have serious consequences for the people involved and for the work atmosphere in general.
Gossip quickly takes on a life of its own and can, after a while, jeopardize the victim's position and job.
Furthermore, gossip is often a first step towards inappropriate behavior and moral harassment.
In other words, gossip is not without danger.
Intervene in time
By intervening early enough, that is, by nipping gossip in the bud, many problems can be avoided.
This is where managers can play an important role. It is essential that they take a clear position and make it known that gossip targeting colleagues is intolerable. For its part, each employee must do their part and refrain from gossiping in the workplace.
How to behave in the face of gossip?
If you are nevertheless confronted with gossip in your workplace, avoid taking part in it and let your colleagues know that you do not want to gossip about other colleagues in their absence.
Also be wary of stories that come to you "second-hand". Do not pass them on to other people and take them with a grain of salt. If the gossip concerns work or concerns you personally, try to verify its validity before drawing conclusions.
Relativize...
That said, the ability to relativize and common sense are not superfluous. Harmless jokes should be possible. Besides, the joker does not always notice that a colleague is offended by a joke or remark.
It is therefore preferable that you set your own limits when you feel that a colleague is overstepping them. Most of the time, this will be enough to put an end to the unwanted behavior.
Outside help
If you notice that a colleague has become the target of gossip and is suffering, encourage them to contact a trusted person or a prevention advisor responsible for psychosocial aspects at work.
These people will lend a listening ear, advise them and can, if necessary, act as a mediator between the parties concerned.
Posted on May 26, 2008
references.be
