About a week ago I posted a question regarding a co-worker of mine who loves to gossip. She has worked for our company a long time and knows everything about everyone. I began to realize she is ultra friendly because she's looking for the scoop. I now find her very insincere and am determined to stay away from her. I can already feel the cold shoulder as I have avoided visiting her office in well over a week - unusual for me because we used to talk daily. I am trying to refrain from gossiping about anybody in the office anymore...is it OK for me to just continue the "hi, how are you" small talk with her and simply leave it at that? She knows a lot about my personal life...won't she think it's weird when I stop telling her things?
2006-07-26 14:50:40 · 16 answers · asked by Rachel 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It shouldn't bother you if she knows. Even better if you tell her you would like to keep your personal life private, so you won't be talking too much about it.
2006-07-26 15:10:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just try and stay busy and I think it's good of you not to want to gossip anymore, Because just as you gossip with her about somebody else she will behind your back gossip about you, May already be, So just HI and Bye and that is that, If it's not work related stay far away from and anybody else because if you are not care full she may have you all up in something you do not want to be in/a apart of.
2006-07-26 15:15:57 · answer #2 · answered by sweettoni37 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd continue being friendly towards her, just remember that anything you tell her will probably be told to at least 10 other people. There's plenty of topics to talk about besides other people. What about community/current events, politics, technology, humor/jokes, etc.. If she tries to talk gossip with you, just change the topic. She'll get the point eventually.
2006-07-26 15:18:26 · answer #3 · answered by larsor4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but you have to protect yourself!!! Just wait til you become her target, and you may not have done anything but she'll spread the word anyway.
I think there is no end to office gossip. I have recently become a subject and I am indignant, but what can I do? i have just ignored it and hope it will die down. I do like you did and only talk to the person spreading the rumor very superficially. Gossip has really hurt my feelings, and I have learned my lesson from talking to this girl.
2006-07-26 14:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Becca 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She probably will think it strange and don't be surprised if she comments on it. I faced a similar situation once and was told I was anti-social because I no longer wanted to participate in the office gossip mill. It comes down to doing what you feel comfortable with.
2006-07-26 14:53:38 · answer #5 · answered by Erin S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell them rapidly. "Sorry, Sally. i'm no longer exciting in gossiping about human beings. you'd be desiring to search for suggestion from with some different person about this." I instructed this to a terrible gossip I artwork with and that i tell her this each and every time she approaches me with some juicy tidbit. She regarded someowhat stunned with suggestions from this, yet she has subsidized off on gossiping with me.
2016-11-26 01:49:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course she will think something is up maybe she thinks you know some gossip about her but you are doing the right thing just stick it out it's good to just keep corporate things private and small talk just that you have gotten smarter then some other people who have lost there jobs because of it your just too cool 4 gossip
2006-07-26 14:56:35 · answer #7 · answered by stefania_n2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She may not notice, especially if she is busy talking about the others in the office. Consider being friendly just not talking about anything personal anymore. Remember if she is talking about the others in the office she is talking about you too. Don't tell her anything you don't want broadcast throughout the office.!
2006-07-26 15:48:57 · answer #8 · answered by kukkeeme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why you haven't files a complaint with your human resource department. If there is any conflict about her revealing personal information about you, have her called in and the two of you bring it out in the open with a witness and a warning.
Other than that, this is a hard lesson to learn, but we all learn it sooner or later. Don't mix business with pleasure.
2006-07-26 14:56:00 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was in a similar situation at my very first job. the person was overly friendly and often stuck her nose in my personal life. to be honest with you, i confronted her. i told her that she often divulged personal information about other people to me and that i could not trust that she didn't do the same about me behind my back. she was, of course, offended. but i felt like i'd made my point. we were very professional and polite with each other after that, but i never again heard even two words about another co-worker. you're at work to earn a living, not make friends. keep that in mind.
2006-07-26 14:58:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Continue to say Hi, Hello etc. Should she begin to talk about others inform her you have changed your life, your ways and have decided gossiping is no longer something you want to involve yourself in. Please respect my feelings on this and not do it around me. Thank you..
2006-07-26 14:57:26 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋