Advice from The Ethics Office at Texas Instruments Corporation
Gossiping at Work
This pages contains a selection of advice from The Ethics Office at Texas Instruments Corporation.
The advice is that of either TI Ethics Director Carl Skooglund or Glenn Coleman, Manager of Ethics Communication and Education. The articles were distributed among TI employees via TNEWS.
Article Number 259: Handling the Rumor Mill
Malicious rumors and gossip attack the spirit of the individual and attempt to divide us into groups. There is no place for them in the ethical workplace at TI.
One activity that we all participate in, most, hopefully, to a lesser extent than others, is the spreading of rumors. It is only natural for us to communicate with our co-workers. I cannot imagine a worse workplace scenario than one where we were not allowed to or chose not to talk with our co-workers. And our perceptions of reality, the truth as we see it, is always a natural topic. But how far do we go when it comes to spreading the "truths" that we hear from co-workers? How much effort do we put into ensuring the accuracy of the stories we pass along? And do we tend to embellish them or exaggerate them in a hurtful manner toward other?
As one TIer asked in a message to the Ethics Office
How do I deal with an individual who habitually spreads malicious rumors about co-workers? These rumors are very hurtful and distract from work responsibilities. Co-workers fear sounding petty if they complain to the supervisor. When this question was presented in this column several weeks ago, many responded with a very proactive answer...and this is good.
Back to Top
Here are a few of your answers.
- Tell the person spreading the rumors that you prefer not to participate in the rumor mill. Also make sure that you don't spread rumors. If enough of us do this, it stops.
- This individual needs to be dealt with directly. Let the person know you don't care to hear. If more of us would do this, rumors would cease.
- An individual who spreads malicious rumors has to have someone listen before they can spread the rumors.
- If you cut this person off by switching the subject or saying you are busy or simply say you do not want to discuss this subject, they can't spread the gossip.
- From those who choose to be less proactive, less involved, came the recommendations to involve the supervisor
- Any supervisor worth his or her salt would welcome the input that one of their people is being a disruptive influence.
- Malicious rumors would never be considered petty.
- If you have first-hand knowledge of its organization, then use whatever means necessary to stop the process. Your immediate supervisor or HR should be able to help.
- And some took opposition to involving the supervisor
- Why go tattling to the supervisor; you will just irritate him/her?
- I think supervisor involvement is less effective than co-worker signs of disapproval.
- Complaining to the supervisor would be the last action to take because we are all adults, aren't we? So we should act in an adult way and try first to solve our problems by ourselves.
- And others suggested involving group or team members to stop the rumor spreading.
Here are some guidelines to follow that will help stop the rumor mill
- When you pass information, casually or not, do so in a manner that ensures that the message heard by those listening is as accurate as possible. Avoid insinuations, quibbling, and half-truths.
- If you are not sure of the information's accuracy, don't repeat it.
- If it is a case of obvious rumor spreading or malicious gossiping, try to stop it in an appropriate manner such as interrupting the speaker and questioning the source of information. Let it be known that you do not approve of such activity.
- Seek help from co-workers, team members, supervisor, manager or Human Resources -- whatever is appropriate to stop the rumor mill.
Malicious rumors and gossip attack the spirit of the individual and attempt to divide us into groups. The ethical workplace that we strive to build at TI is based on trust, honesty, candor, and teamwork and has no place for the malicious games that people play.