We have all said and done things in our lives that we regret. While none of those errors in judgment may have gotten us fired from a job, one that could realistically lead to termination involves gossip or other forms of rumor-spreading. These can be considered forms of misconduct and a fireable offense, and even if participating in gossip doesn’t get you fired, other consequences may ensue.
Gossip signals immaturity and poor judgment on your part, which could lead your boss and colleagues to see you as unreliable and not focused on work. Moreover, gossip can poison a workplace atmosphere with mistrust, thereby reducing the positive morale and camaraderie necessary for smooth operations; in the end, gossip can irreparably damage professional and personal relationships.
Once, I was working at a client’s office when the CEO called a company-wide meeting in the middle of the day. This was highly unusual, so needless to say, the employees were nervous about the content of such a meeting. The reason for the meeting was to inform everyone that a newly hired staff member had been fired and escorted out of the office immediately. (Some companies have a policy like this to ensure that employees do not return to their workspace, where they can sabotage or steal company assets, once they learn they are terminated.)
The CEO openly explained that the newly hired employee had shared a rumor she’d overheard about a possible management shake-up. The story spread fast, and within days, it had reached the very manager she had mentioned. Though she hadn’t meant any harm, the company viewed it as a breach of professionalism and trust as well as a disruption to the work environment.
Along with gossip, a host of other personal discussions and conversational styles do not belong in the workplace. Remember, these are not your family or friends. This doesn’t mean you don’t care about each other; it just means the workplace is for work.
Now is a good time to assess how you interact with your coworkers to ensure you present a positive, respectful disposition with a focus on your work and not on the daily chatter around the proverbial water cooler. Often attributed to Socrates, there is a saying: “Strong minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; weak minds discuss people.”* Regardless of its origin, the message holds timeless wisdom.
Never listen to gossip. Work gossip can be extremely damaging to company morale and coworker relationships. Eventually, the person who is gossiped about will find out you were part of the conversation, even if you only listened. Graciously and quickly step away from any sensitive conversation that even remotely sounds like gossip.
Never spread rumors. The workplace rumor mill is in constant flow about everything from coworker romances to imminent terminations. The only pertinent information you should be interested in at work is related to work and comes straight from the horse’s mouth, like your boss. Staying above the fray shows integrity.
Never curse in the workplace. Cursing out loud is low-class and shows a true lack of professionalism. Granted, in some industries it may be commonplace, such as on a trading floor on Wall Street. However, just because you hear curse words from others around you, or use these words in your personal life, does not mean you should use them at work.
Never discuss controversial topics like sex, politics, or religion. It is inappropriate to discuss these topics in a workplace setting, even at a happy hour after work with your coworkers. Someone could become offended, and those feelings will find their way back to the workplace the next day. Save those discussions for trusted, personal relationships. Acceptable topics of conversation may include hobbies, travel, pets, sports, technology, fitness, and so forth. The list of topics is endless, so steer clear of controversial discussion points and politely change the subject as soon as possible if someone else is heading down that road.
Never discuss the big “news of the day” at work. Our lives are inundated with news 24/7 from cable networks and social media. I use the term “news” lightly, as most of the news stories are 10% fact and 90% opinion from so-called expert panels or followers in the comments section. We all have our own opinions, but the workplace is not the proper place to express them about topics unrelated to your work duties.
Never discuss personal matters at work. Keep your personal life separate from your work life. The fewer people who know about your personal problems, the better. As harsh as it may sound, you don’t want to be known as the person at work who constantly shares personal issues or seeks sympathy from anyone who will listen. When a coworker asks, “How are you today?” it’s simply a polite greeting, not an invitation to share your struggles.
Never tell stories about your party weekend or your dating escapades. This information about you is private, and your discussion or boasting about such stories may cause coworkers to quietly disrespect you.
Never complain about work or about coworkers to customers or other coworkers. Complaining, in general, signals negativity and lack of professionalism and can quickly label you as difficult to work with. It can damage your reputation, your team’s morale, and the organization’s image. If you have a legitimate concern, address it privately with yoursupervisor and focus on finding a solution rather than venting frustrations.
Never confide in your coworkers regarding any of your alternative goals. “My real goal is to work for our competition.” No! This is a perfect example of what not to say. Like a fire in a dry forest, this information will blaze through the company rumor mill and may negatively affect your path to promotion.
Final Thoughts. Maintain your professionalism by avoiding gossip, rumors, personal matters, and controversial topics in the workplace. Although tempting, these types of conversations can harm reputations, damage trust, and even lead to termination. By staying above workplace chatter and focusing on work-related communication, you can strengthen your sense of humility—the H in HMWK—and protect both your credibility and your relationships from the negative consequences that often ensue from inappropriate talk.
Very truly yours,
Aunt Anna
*Although often attributed to Socrates (470–399 BCE), there is no historical evidence that he ever said it. The earliest known version of this quote appears in The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers (Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York), where Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with writing: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
