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I am
employed in a department rife with "gossiping women". When I initially
started this job, my dedication and hard work came from the drive of knowing
that I was here to do a job and not make friends.
Within three months I was promoted within the company to another position, while others who had been there for years were still in the same department. Never had I worked in an environment where employees made it their top priority to discuss personal information about themselves and violate other employees' confidentiality. I accepted one lunch invitation too many, and instead of enjoying my lunch, the overall discussion was strictly bad mouthing coworkers and supervisors.
I made the mistake of "making friends" and this is when all my problems began. I began to be the victim of workplace gossip; as a result I withdrew myself from the personal bond of co-workers, which made the gossiping even worse.
After two years of being subjected to the having my name bandied about by the company town criers, I e-mailed human resources with my concerns. I indicated that I had plans on searching for a new job due to the work environment. A meeting with HR was called and I was asked to chose a supervisor in my department that I was most comfortable with to attend the meeting. During the meeting, HR and the department supervisor of my choice went over my e-mailed concerns.
In the meeting I was asked, "what would make your work environment a better place?" I advised that if employees would spend more time at their desk working and less time discussing personal issues and information told to them in secrecy by other co-workers, this practice would be beneficial to everyone involved. The department would be more productive as a whole and on an individual basis.
I was informed that information submitted to HR would be looked into and selective employees would be monitored accordingly.
Please give me your opinion on the matter.
Signed,
Corporate Blues
Dear Corporate Blues:
Despite your assertion that you came to your job to work and that you did not come there to make friends, I have a feeling that you wanted friends and have been disappointed in your attempts. Some gossips must have painted you blue with a muddy brush. Now you may be so soured on your coworkers who gossip, you imply that your best course may be to seek a transfer.
Barring that possibility you will have to choose
Every work group has a climate and that climate affects the quality and amount of work that is accomplished. Sure work is work. Sure you are paid to work and not to gossip. However surely, the day goes longer if you and your coworkers are all work and no play. Why not take on the task of transforming the misty weather of your work environment to fair and warmer? It, of course, is not your task alone. It may take the help of HR, your boss, and coworker, together, addressing the question: What might we do to make our workplace a sunny place in which to work?
WEGO has a lot to do with the weather, and both about whether there are good conversations about the jobs we are doing and whether there is a good measure of small talk
Bill Gorden