Slanderous rumor mongers in the workplace

[Emergent]

One of the techs at work informed me that our manager at work is having an affair with one of our doctors. She is 'sure' of this because they have long meetings behind closed doors. Then she let me know that I am the only one she has told and that I mustn't breathe a word.

Prior to telling me this, she informed me that our manager had called her into the office and raked her over the coals over her work ethic, and that she was a backstabber. Well, frankly, she does suck and has needed to be taken out to the woodshed for some time. And why she was confiding this inflammatory nonsense to me, God only knows. And, I seriously doubt that I'm the only recipient of her 'inside knowledge' about the adultery she claims to be occurring.

Frankly, this is slander. I quietly informed the charge nurse who is my best confidant at work, and she has made sure that the victims of this malicious gossip are aware. Defaming someone's reputation is a serious matter, in my opinion. I think we all should stand up against this sort of thing.

[kakamegamama]

Gossip is wrong and unprofessional in the workplace (or anywhere for that matter) & has the potential to ruin reputations. I think it would have been better to have let the manager know of the rumor rather than the charge nurse, whether you feel you are less articulate or not. One less person by your hand being privy to the slander would be better than even "sharing" with your good friend. In effect, you participated. I have been the victim of gossip. It was painful when I found out. It would have been better all the way around if I had been approached personally about the subject that was being gossiped about. My reputation and integrity were attacked and that was not good (to put it mildly). By the time I was notified (by my manager) it was too late. The "die" had been cast for me and no matter what I did to live the gossip down I knew that nothing would change the perceptions of others about me that had been based on that gossip. It sounds like the tech just wants to stir the pot (on the surface) but what is happening is instead risking reputation and perhaps patient confidence in physician and manager, should that tech or others be overheard.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

It sounds like you work at Payton Place Hospital E. :)

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

There will always be people who tell rumors, what is more important is how YOU deal with it. Do you stop it dead in the tracks, or do you encourage it, or do you spread it?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I just don't swim in the swamp. I stay out of it all together.

If it doesn't involve human trafficking, children and hurting animals. I just walk away.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I've worked in places where the grapevine was literally the only way to find out about new personnel (not anything about them, more like the fact that there were 2 new people in accounting), office moves, new policies and procedures, and other things normal companies distribute newsletter and e-mails about. I listen to gossip as a way to keep informed, but I don't contribute or repeat things.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I've worked in places where the grapevine was literally the only way to find out about new personnel (not anything about them, more like the fact that there were 2 new people in accounting), office moves, new policies and procedures, and other things normal companies distribute newsletter and e-mails about. I listen to gossip as a way to keep informed, but I don't contribute or repeat things.

And there's a place in the workplace for good gossip: "Hey, did you know that Mary is getting Employee of the Month?"

"Sue's son got a full scholarship to Yale!"

"That new heart surgeon worked with my sister at Stanford, and they say he's great with valves."

Then, as you say, there's the informative stuff: "Dr. Imaflamingdonkeybutt moved his office to the seventh floor and Dr. Imananalsphincterwithastickfirmlystuck is going to be in his old office on the unit. So be careful at night. Dr. IMananalsphincterwithastickfirmlystuck is a real stickler about noise."

"Oh, the blood bank forms are on-line now."

All that stuff is great to discuss and repeat, along with "Did you see what Kim Kardashian wore to the premier?" or "What happened to Renee Zellweger's face?" That sort of stuff helps keep you awake at night. But repeating groundless rumors about someone's sexual indiscretions -- not so cool.

Stop and think about how you would want your co-workers to react if those rumors were about YOU.

[TheGooch]

Either gender can play dumb and avoid having anything to do with that nonsense. But for the record, the guys are some of the biggest gossips at my workplace! And DH says the guys at his workplace gossip FAR more than the women.

That reminds me of an episode of Andy Griffith where they accused Aunt Bea and her friends of being gossipy. But the men, NOOOOOOO they NEVER gossiped. By the end of the episode turns out they were just as gossipy as the females.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I love small talk. Love to hear about a young nurse's awesome date--I think this is the one!, a great place to eat--ya GOTTA have the dessert, someone's latest score on sale--the right shade of blue and $20!! However, that is far different than did you hear that Manager Commands Respect is doing dirty deeds with Dr. Pillar O'Community?!?!?!?!

I walk away 100% of the time. Back when I didn't know better, and walked away only 99% of the time, I would think "goodness why the interest? Whatcha been up to that you are shifting the focus here?"

Now, I feel like if I want reality drama, I can turn on the TV.