Is it necessary to fight gossip at work?
The result of regular conversations at work are… Rumors. This is inevitable in the workplace. These negative ones can lead to a toxic atmosphere in the company. And what is the most common gossip about? One in three people talk about family, 64% about friends and 58% about their boss. As many as 57% of people gossip about co-workers. Can rumors destroy a team? How to prevent this from happening?
Gossiping is an inseparable part of human nature. Everyone does it – regardless of age. More than half of people admit that they like to speculate about their boss, as well as the employees they spend time with on a daily basis. Young people aged 18 to 29 are the most likely to gossip – 38% of respondents. However, as many as 33% of people aged 30 to 44 admit that they regularly gossip. What’s more, 57% of people have caught someone gossiping behind their back. This is a worrying phenomenon.
A culture of gossip can create a toxic work environment. Employees may begin to look at each other with suspicion and contempt. Rumors lead to conflicts and speculation. The role of the employer is to create a working environment that does not give room for speculation.
– It is crucial to have the right internal communication strategy. There should be a clear flow of information in the company so as to leave as little room for speculation as possible. Therefore, it is crucial to have the right tools and a good approach to communication. It is worth informing about the company’s plans, promotions, planned bonuses or benefits. For this purpose, tools such as newsletter, e-mail communication, videoconferences will work great – explains Sebastian Kopiej from the PR agency Commplace.
The company should oppose any behavior that leads to gossip. This is m.in talking in a pejorative way about absent employees or issuing negative opinions about the company. The key is to learn how to manage gossip in the company.
Companies employ people of different ages and experience. Ignorance of colleagues can lead to gossip. To this end, the employer should ensure the integration of employees.
– Integration trips help to get to know the people we work with. Maintaining good relations with colleagues also improves team performance, which can translate into the company’s financial results. A pleasant atmosphere in the company also affects the well-being of employees. Wellbeing plays a huge role in uncertain times – adds the expert of the Crown of the Karkonosze Manor.
The development of interpersonal relationships can eliminate the amount of gossip in the company. Both integration trips and corporate events allow you to get to know your colleagues. It should be remembered that an unpleasant atmosphere at work and many gossip can be the cause of high turnover in the company.
To eliminate gossip, executives should promote a culture that limits this behavior and work to improve team dynamics. One of the most effective ways is to implement open communication in the company. Thanks to the dialogue, employees will not feel the need to speculate about events organized in the company.
Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.