New York Lawyer
July 27, 2006

Q:
I feel like maybe I�m getting too involved in the gossip machine in my firm. I know a lot of people who know some pretty lurid information about various people in the firm, and it gets a little close to the edge. This is about who�s having an affair with whom, stuff like that. Frankly I�m fascinated, and talk with others about these things, but I worry about it a little. Do you think I run any risks by having these conversations?

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A:

It�s good that you�re aware that these conversations might wind up hurting you in some respect. Here are my rules about office gossip:

Some "gossip" is good. We often think of gossip in the worst possible light, spreading false rumors about someone to injure their reputation, but good-hearted discussion of what people are up to (which might be called gossip) is fine. In fact, to make sure that you are aware of the informal workings around your firm, you want to make sure to stay plugged in. The way to do that is to have lots of relationships with many people, and to stay connected with them, find out what they�re doing, and to hear about what other people are doing. Therefore I don�t advise a strict "no gossip" rule.

Bad news is a red flag. A simple rule of thumb is that when the gossip being repeated is negative about an individual, you should be on the alert.

Beware of people�s motives, and act accordingly. If someone is passing along negative information about a colleague, you should instantly be alert as to their motives. If you suspect that they are deliberately trying to backstab or otherwise undermine someone else, for their own political gain or simply to be nasty, these are exactly the kinds of conversations to steer well clear of. This is because you could wind up implicated as one of the gossip mongers, should the nasty information progress to the ears of people in power, and it could backfire on you badly.

Don�t repeat information that is ostensibly confidential. Many times people come in possession of confidential information, and inadvertently repeat it, only to find out that the assumption was that the information was closely held. The very fact that you possess the information will be held against you, even if you learned about it innocently. Therefore, be careful about what you repeat to others.

As you can see, participating in the "gossip machine" can be a dangerous game; if you play it, be aware of the risks.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work