Is It Gossip? by Tracy Senat

"I heard James was fired because he was late to work again."
" That new secretary wears skirts that are too short."
" Everybody knows he got that promotion just because he plays golf with board members."

Comments like these are heard every day in every organization. But is it harmless conversation, or is it gossip? And does it matter?

The new HIPAA privacy guidelines have helped tremendously to define what should stay private in regards to patients. But what about employee to employee?

In a work setting where people get to know each other well, the line between conversation and gossip often becomes murky. In a healthcare setting, the line can get especially blurred because of the personal nature of the work. In a small town environment where "everybody knows everybody," employees truly may not know where casual conversation ends and gossip begins.

Gossip Is Not Harmless!

Many managers often find themselves attempting to ignore gossip, reasoning that it's simply human nature to gossip and it's harmless anyway.

The trouble is that true gossip is not harmless. It can result in anything from hurt feelings to slander lawsuits. It often is inaccurate and can be damaging. It can divide employees against each other and against the hospital.

If it is not addressed, it can damage your recruitment and retention efforts and your community image. It can even hurt your census. People in the community who hear employees gossiping about each other may very easily conclude that their own privacy will be at risk if they use the hospital for services. The anonymity of the bigger hospital down the road may suddenly not seem so bad.

Gossips vs. Professionals

One thing should be clear: gossiping is never professional behavior! A gossip is defined by Webster's as a person who "habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others." Professionals, on the other hand, "exhibit a courteous, conscientious and generally businesslike manner in the workplace." By definition, one can't be a gossip and a professional at the same time.

If your employees are gossiping about each other, it is either because they have not been trained how to behave professionally, or are taking their cues from others around them who are being allowed to behave that way.

Don't Ignore It!

If gossip is a problem in your organization, don't ignore it! You must take steps to set your expectations of professional behavior from all employees. Here are a few to consider:

1. Clearly define what you mean by gossip and professional behavior. Provide training sessions if necessary.

2. Employees must discourage each other from gossiping. They should use language such as, "I don't want to hear that," or should just walk away from the offender.

3. If it continues, gossipers should be confronted concerning their behavior. As uncomfortable as this is, it lets employees know the issue is being taken seriously by the organization.

4. Clearly define the punishment for gossipers, such as low marks on annual evaluations.

Back to Publications