I've never been one to gossip at anyone at work because its very unprofessional and causes drama. I've been lucky to work at drama/gossip free work places before, but unfortunately this is not my current case. I have reason to suspect that the lady that is training may have said something behind my back due to the conversations I've had with other co-workers. I've also seen her gossip about fellow co workers and even clients, in front of other clients.
I just don't know how to properly handle it if it gets out of control or if she becomes rude.
Just wanted other people's exp. and feed back.

3/12/2009 8:45:57 PM

Are you new there?

(I ask because you mentioned you were in training)

3/12/2009 8:52:59 PM

I gossip all the time

I don't call it gossip tho

I call it talking shit

and its common practice

I wouldn't worry about it

[Edited on March 12, 2009 at 8:58 PM. Reason : well youre a girl and girls are different...girls are 10 times more vicious than guys]

3/12/2009 8:56:52 PM

yes new job so that makes it tricky b/c i don't want to lose it, on the other hand that is why its tricky b/c it may or may not effect the way i get trained and I want to get trained properly.

3/12/2009 8:57:10 PM

i used to manage a college bookstore and i had 4 women on my staff. the two older women and the two younger girls got all cliquey and would always bitch about the other ones. one time they started yelling at each other on the sales floor with customers around. despite dozens of one on ones with them, they could not get along. so my eventual solution was to move

my advice to you is to not get involved. if she gossips around you, ignore her, change the subject. if you think she's gossiping about you, just ignore it. don't let it affect your job performance, or your demeanor. just let it slide off your back

[Edited on March 12, 2009 at 9:02 PM. Reason : women. what the hell is wrong with them]

3/12/2009 9:00:58 PM

Without gossipy people the day would be so boring.....one of the contractors at work forwarded a email to his manager who then forwarded the email to everyone (minor issue). We refer to him as the snitch now.....lol

3/12/2009 9:08:55 PM

get a witness and go to hr. then they will ignore you and most likely fire you.

3/12/2009 9:12:00 PM

your waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too new to be making waves this early......you need to fly under the radar for awhile....

3/12/2009 9:13:09 PM

Man, some of my jobs would have been intolerable without gossip

I think this is something you'll just have to get used to. At least you know early in the game that she's a shit talker and know not to divulge anything personal with her that you wouldn't want the entire office to know.

3/12/2009 9:21:47 PM

Both of my jobs involve lots of gossip. My main job is like 98% women though, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

My part-time job has been even more gossip driven, and it is a far smaller staff. I got in trouble with my boss over some gossip last week. One of my coworkers whose "part-time" only in benefits but works 40 hours just graduated from college at Christmas. The current employer can't pay for her to have insurance, and her father can no longer carry her, and more importantly her daughter in 1st grade, anymore because she is out of school. Since our current employer says they can't afford it, she has been looking for other jobs and I have been encouraging her a lot. I knew her well before the job and I helped her get it. She posted to Facebook about a possible job offer and I responded that she should definitely go after it if it is much better pay and full benefits, even if it is a 30 mile commute. My boss saw this on our wall-to-wall convo and got all pissed. I sent her a very serious email stating why I said what I said (basically she wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit at our current job) and explained that I think its BS she graduated from college and can't get insurance and she should not be upset or surprised if the girl leaves to find something better. Then she forwards my fucking e-mail to another coworker at our office, which it was never any of his business to begin with. I saw it left on his desktop in Outlook when I came into work the next day. Thats the kinda shit that makes me want to bug out from that place.

The real BS I was referring to is the bosses pet who comes into work hours late and leaves to "run errands" like getting his haircut, never puts down his real time, barely takes time away from online gambling to help customers, and he's supposed to be the "full-time" guy in charge of the store. He can't even get a drawer straight at the end of the day, and the day before I sent the e-mail had left a $200 drawer at $97 because he didn't count it out! Yet I'm an awful employee for suggesting the other girl might be getting tired of dealing with shitty coworkers like that?

So yea gossip blows, women are more vicious about it then men, but its a fact of life at most offices.

3/12/2009 9:37:46 PM

and the one person that you feel you can tell all your personal stuff to is the nicest, friendlinest, sits down and listen to you vent....then that person will end up telling everyone...lol

3/12/2009 9:41:07 PM

I aint one to gossip, so you ain't heard that from me

3/12/2009 9:44:21 PM

Quote :

"She posted to Facebook about a possible job offer and I responded that she should definitely go after it if it is much better pay and full benefits, even if it is a 30 mile commute."

Why would you two be retarded enough to post stuff like this on a public forum?

3/12/2009 9:59:48 PM

^ this is why i don't give out fb or myspace to workers and make myself un-findable.

3/12/2009 10:01:13 PM

You handle it by ignoring it. Who cares what that bitch says?

3/12/2009 10:09:51 PM

Start making up better gossip like, "I wonder how Sally manages life... the horomone therapy involved with a sex change is rough on the system."

Honestly, I avoid most of it because I'm a very direct and condescending smartass at work (thanks to years of TWW training)... being 6'5" 250 helps too. I'd prefer to be thought of as harsh but honest rather than polite but two-faced.

3/13/2009 12:29:35 AM

if you're in a position to "handle it", the situation or the ones who are gossipping, pull them aside, one at a time

if not, ignore it

who gives a fuck what anyone thinks, it doesnt affect me

3/13/2009 12:45:31 AM

i only read the first post, this thread is fucking ridiculous.

3/13/2009 3:55:59 PM

Quote :

"I just don't know how to properly handle it if it gets out of control or if she becomes rude. "

This depends on workplace culture largely. If it's something deemed acceptable in the given workplace environment, and you try to stop it, well, you probably will have the backing of your manager / hr / etc., but, you'll probably be tarred and feathered by your co-workers. Have fun with that.

If it's something deemed not acceptable, wait until it DOES get out of control, THEN say something. I've been offended by enough people at work. I'm too busy to worry about it most of the time. Move on, and it comes back and gets worse, then do something about it.

3/15/2009 10:42:05 AM