Workplace Wellbeing: Dark side of office gossip 

Sharing negative information about a colleague with others in the workplace can damage reputations and undermine morale

Gossip can signal an open and welcoming workplace and show camaraderie among a team — but when it becomes negative or malicious, it can end up damaging the workplace environment

One person leans close to another’s ear, covers their mouth with their hands, and begins whispering excitedly. The other person’s eyebrows shoot up as they listen intently, before rushing off to spread the news further.

This is how gossip has always travelled along the office grapevine, and according to Dr Elena Martinescu, a behavioural scientist who studies the psychology of gossip at Vrije University in Amsterdam, it’s entirely to be expected.