Gossip plays an important role in casual discussion, and the office is not immune to this phenomenon. These are terms that are frequently used to pique an audiences interest and to set the stage for gossip. Office gossip is a phenomenon that occurs in the office and can range from pleasant chit-chat to malevolent behind-the-back conversations among coworkers.
We frequently overhear or make critical remarks about someone who is not present - in other words, we gossip (Foster, 2004). Aside from the notorious watercooler, office gossip may occur virtually anywhere: the corridor, kitchen, elevator, and even more official situations like meetings (Hallett et al., 2009). According to studies, gossip accounts for roughly 14% of our talks (Robbins and Karan, 2020), and more than 90% of the workforce gossips (Grosser et al., 2012).
Gossip is a regular occurrence at work. Almost all workers are guilty of making, hearing, or otherwise partaking in evaluative remarks about someone not present in the conversation. Gossip is frequently defined as informal, casual, or unrestrained talk or stories about other people, generally incorporating unconfirmed data (Foster, 2004; Kurland & Pelled, 2000). According to researchers, 14 percent of office coffee-break discussion is truly gossip, and around 66 percent of general conversion between employees is devoted to social themes involving gossip about other individuals (Cole & Dalton, 2009). Thus, gossip serves as an informal communication and information sharing medium, even if the information communicated through gossip is not always precise or full.
Sign up now to get updated on latest posts and relevant career opportunities