How Office Gossip Affects the Workplace and Employee Productivity

I know a small real estate company with 20 or so employees. You would think that such a small company has a strong bond between its people. To my horror, this was far from reality. In fact, this small organization is riddled with lots of strain and tension. This unsettling vibes made it difficult for the organization to grow. The culprit as I found out was the gossips that floated in every crack and corner of the office. To say that gossip had a bad effect was a humongous understatement.

Gossip no matter how innocent or small can ruin even a huge organization. Here are some ill effects of gossip in the workplace especially when it goes out of hand.

Strains relationships

The most obvious effect of rumor-mongering in the office is the strain on relationships. Whether it’s professional or personal relationships, gossips can be destructive. Once relationships are ruined, other facets of the workplace will be affected.

Hampers productivity

Of course the time spent gossiping in the workplace could have been used more productively. But more than just the time and resources, a culture of gossiping affects individual outputs. Some employees would not work well with people because of the strained relationships. Also, work-related discussions become personal and unproductive. In the end, working together seems to be a slogan that no one really values.

Decreases professionalism

Encouraging gossip in the workplace is like a vortex that can suck many people in. When it is not excised from the corporate culture, it will pull down professionalism. When gossip is perpetuated in the office, it sends a negative message that it is tolerated.

Creates emotional and psychological stress

Poor productivity comes from many sources. One of which is stress. Adding gossip into the mix of stressors in the workplace, employees will definitely have more things to carry on their shoulders. As much as we do not want it to happen, some individuals will work less effectively with others especially because of gossips floating around the office.

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Can be costly

The wasted resources can sap out the business organization’s funds. From the lag in productivity to the possible law suits, gossiping can deplete a company’s resources.

At first, gossiping may seem harmless but it can turn out to be a dark side of the corporate culture. The truth is I have not seen any organization that did not have some form of gossiping present. Some companies experience an outbreak comparable to the bubonic plague while others are more subtle and covert. Likewise, its effects range from the manageable to the downright war zones. How is it in your office? Has gossip taken its toll on your employees or is it still manageable?

Quick Queries:

• How serious is the office gossip in your workplace?
• What is the company doing about office gossip?
• Have you been a subject of any office rumors? How did that affect you?