How office gossip can be detrimental to your career

It may be a mainstay of your office 9-5; midway through an arduous work task, you might decide to head to the kitchen and find the time to catch up with a colleague between piping hot mugs of tea.

In those moments of respite away from your desk, you might be tempted to complain about work, or snipe about a boss or coworker who has tickled your final nerve. It may seem like harmless, necessary venting—but it may well be having a substantial impact on your career.

A study of 1,400 participants conducted by the University of Leeds business school found that those perceived to be ‘office gossips’ were viewed in a derogatory light when compared to their colleagues. Co-author Dr Nahid Ibrahim said of the study: “(Gossip) can damage individuals' reputations and create misunderstandings among members, disrupting teamwork and cooperation.

“Although gossipers are seen as more sociable than someone who does not gossip, they are also seen as less moral and less competent.”

It’s understandable that being a colleague who is always keen to spill the tea will have a detrimental effect on how people view you at work, explains former University of Edinburgh cultural and organisational anthropologist, Dr Alex Gapud.

“Being seen as a gossip that spreads rumours can definitely harm your reputation because it affects how people trust you and their perceptions of how trustworthy you are,” he explains to Harper’s Bazaar UK. “It may reveal elements of your character and whether or not you act with goodwill or in people’s interests.”

“What initially feels like harmless fun or a way to stay in the loop can ultimately paint you as untrustworthy or unprofessional,” adds Ken Janssens, co-founder and head of social impact at Windō, a platform that connects talent with values-aligned employers. “If your colleagues feel they cannot trust you with information, it can be a red flag when it comes to assigning projects or considering you for promotions.”

He continues: “In a world where company reputations are paramount, organisations also care deeply about the reputations of their employees and how they treat one another at work. Everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging and safety in their work environment, and gossip can disrupt that sense of inclusion.”

However, it’s important to note that not all gossip is inherently harmful—in some instances, that natter with your colleagues in the kitchen can do you the world of good.

“Gossip can sometimes be beneficial because it can allow people to come together informally and offer support to one another, especially in tough situations or where a colleague is having a difficult time,” explains Dr Mary-Clare Race, CEO at Talking Talent. “It can also be a useful temperature-check for leaders who want to understand how employees are feeling about a change such as a restructure or an office move.

“Ultimately, if the gossip is positive and involves spreading positive messages about a person or the organisation, then that of course can be very beneficial to the overall mood and morale of the team.”

However, it’s important to distinguish between casual water-cooler chatter and establishing bonds with colleagues, and what constitutes toxic bitching and office backstabbing. There is a way to make sure your loose lips won’t see you put in the firing line.

“Not all gossip is equal,” says Charlotte Davies, a careers expert at LinkedIn. “A recent LinkedIn poll showed that while 27 per cent agree that office gossip encourages team bonding, nearly half (46 per cent) of professionals believe that it’s toxic within the workplace.

“However, you can use positive gossip to your advantage; selectively participating in workplace chatter can help to build connections and share valuable information among colleagues.”

“Gossip can be a useful temperature-check for leaders who want to understand how employees are feeling.”

“In today’s society, we are constantly taking in new information and, it can be difficult to discern what is gossip and what is not,” Janssens explains. “Avoiding anything that could be interpreted as gossip is a safe bet in the corporate world. However, this doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from your colleagues.

“Focusing conversations on common interests is a great way to bond without resorting to hearsay. Just as you expect your company to be transparent about its values, your company will expect transparency and integrity from you—so I’d suggest politely excusing yourself if a conversation veers into uncomfortable territory.”

There's always the danger that, if you've heard your colleagues be the subject of gossip at times, then there may come a point that you are the hot topic at the water cooler.

“If this is the case, be up front and confront the gossiper calmly,” advises Davies. “This will give you a chance to have a direct and honest conversation with them. Consider addressing the content of what is being said about you vs the act of it being said ‘behind your back’. That way you’re more likely to uncover if there is merit in what’s being said, deal with it constructively and openly, and potentially prevent it from escalating into future personal conflict.”

And if you feel you’ve been labelled, perhaps unfairly, as an office gossip, then there’s still time to rectify your workplace reputation.

“It’s important to demonstrate growth to those around you,” Janssens continues, urging people who are worried about their workplace demeanour to “avoid more negative gossipy conversations” and instead try to “celebrate the success of other colleagues”. In some extreme cases, it may be worth acknowledging your past behaviour with the relevant individuals, apologise and express a desire to improve.

“Transparency and accountability are key to building trust in any corporate climate,” Janssens explains. “If you turn up to work treating others with the same respect that you would expect from them, people will start to trust you more with time.”

Sarah Rafferty and Meghan Markle in Suits

Dr Alex Gapud also stresses the importance of ensuring that people have confidence in you in the workplace.

“If, despite your good intent, you’re seen as a gossip for your own power or attention, or to undermine others, think about other ways that you can build people’s trust in you,” he says. “Maybe that means keeping secrets, or maybe that means finding other ways to demonstrate acting in others’ best interests and not solely for your own.

“If, however, you’re gossiping and spreading rumours to undermine others, then you need to recognise that your behaviour is problematic, and it’s important for you to examine why you’re doing that in the first place—not only for your professional life, but probably for the sake of your personal life as well.”

Image credits: USA Network and Getty images

This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK in July 2024.

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