The danger of workplace gossip

I. Read and translate the text.

Gossip is as old as mankind. It is unrealistic to think we could free the workplace of gossip. It’s also conducted through the free will of employees, and regulating that is very difficult without creating a big brother climate.

There is a very big difference between the little chit-chat and gossip, and it is an important one, because gossip run amok can be dangerous and destructive in the workplace.

So how does one tell the difference between idle chatter and gossiper? While idle chit-chat and other light conversation can be value neutral, gossip is often negative, inflammatory and embarrassing to the person being spoken of.

Here is a test: Consider the impact of what is being said. Does it cast negative asperions? Does it create rifts? Does it exult in the misfortune of others? Does it have a negative emotional charge? Does it serve to perpetuate conflict or negativity? Is it hurtful or damaging? Is it something you would say in front of that person? Technically, any sharing of trivial or unsubstantiated information can be considered gossip. But you have to consider the sentiment. For example, if it were rumored that a coworker is being promoted, and you discuss it with a coworker, is that gossip? If the discussion is hurtful or damaging or negative, then yes, it is gossip. But if it’s value

Unit VI Gossip________________________________________________________________

neutral then it’s not. If the story is told with negativity and without good will, then it is gossip.

Gossip can have many adverse side effects on an organization. It can increase conflict and decrease morale. It results in strained relationships. Gossip breaks down the trust level within the group, which results in employees second-guessing each other and ultimately running to the supervisor to clarify the directions or instructions, or to settle the differences that will arise. Gossip is the death of teamwork as the group breaks up into cliques and employees start refusing to work with others. Gossip results in the supervisor spending an enormous amount of time trying to figure out who said what to whom. Or, worse yet, the supervisor struggles to explain to the manager that the on-going conflicts and communication problems within the workgroup are the reason work doesn't get done only to hear the manager comment, " Why can't you manage your team better? " Productivity is lost, as are good employees who do not want to work in that toxic environment.

The supervisor has to communicate regularly and consistently with employees about what's going on in the workplace. If employees don't have good information from the supervisor about what is going on, they will make it up in the form of speculation and gossip. Consistent and authentic communication will work wonders in stopping the gossip.

In other words, the act of active listening actually supports and promotes gossiping. The more you listen, the more you encourage it. If you don’t listen, the gossip has nowhere to go. Think about the last time you told a story to someone who was clearly not interested. The story probably withered on the vine.

(By Mary Abbajay)

II. Read and memorize the following words:

adverse – неблагоприятный

aspersion - клевета

break down v. – разрушать

break up into v. – распадаются на

cast v. - бросить

сhit-chat – блтовня; беседа о том о сём; пересуды

create v. – создать

destructive - разрушительный

embarrassing - смущающий

encourage v. – поощрять

exult v. – ликовать, торжествовать

hurtful –вредный, пагубный

inflammatory – подстрекательский; возбуждающий

mankind - человечество

perpetuate v. – увековечивать, сохранять навсегда

pipeline – источник (информации)

rift – трещина

Unit VI Gossip________________________________________________________________

rumor v. –распространять слухи

run amok v. – обезуметь, быть вне себя

sentiment – чувство, настроение, отношение

strained – напряжённый

supervisor - руководитель

trivial – тривиальный, незначительный, мелкий

trust - доверие

unsubstantiated – необоснованный, бездоказательный

wither v. – увядать, сохнуть