Eight Steps to Follow if You’re The Topic of Workplace Gossip

Oh, no.

You’ve been spotted speaking to the new accountant—and it looked, to the person sitting in the cubicle across the hall, as though the two of you were flirting. She sends a text to your cubicle mate, and before you know it, six pairs of eyes are staring at you before you even get a chance to check your e-mail. The ironic part of this story is. . . you weren’t flirting. You just wanted to say hello to a new co-worker.

Your workplace gossip story could mirror the above—or, it could as a result of telling just one co-worker something you shouldn’t have, in which case the story is true. Or it can arise due to simple workplace conflict. We’ve already covered how to be elegant in the workplace—but we now take that a step further with these eight steps to showing what a class act you are in the face of being the subject of workplace gossip.

Step 1: Process it.
The rumors being passed about you either are or are not truth. If the rumors are not true and you choose to explain your version of the story, prepare your talking points and then move to the second half of step two below. If the rumors are truth—and do not portray you in a positive light—don’t dwell on how the stories came to fruition.

Step 2: Ignore it—or clarify it.
If the rumors are true, don’t give them any further life. Even if you’re bothered, don’t show it. This tactic is difficult—but it is possibly the most classy way to handle a gossip situation. If the rumors aren’t true, don’t grow angry with a questioning colleague—but explain what actually happened without providing a great deal of detail. Stick to the facts. Avoid embellishments. Be neutral.

Step 3: Stay quiet.
You’re not antisocial if you don’t want to engage in any further conversation for the rest of the day after the gossip surrounding you spread like wild fire. You do have to communicate work-related items—but that’s it. That being said, do your best not to act passive-aggressive when asked a question, and answer as you would normally.

Step 4: Focus on your work.
If you take the energy you are spending on worrying about the rumor mill, you can accomplish a heck of a lot. You’ll also end up distracted from the gossip by your work—and you’ll show your colleagues that you aren’t phased. Your attitude will become the new topic of conversation.

Step 5: Take it easy.
Go home when you’re supposed to, have a cup of tea, take a nap, fire up Netflix, break out the adult coloring book—whatever helps you to decompress.

Step 6: Stay off social media—for the time being.
While extremely beneficial for networking and staying in touch with friends, gossip lives on social media—and what’s being spread in the office is sure to end up there too. You don’t need to be reminded once you’re home and decompressing from the day’s events, and you don’t want to add any further fuel to the fire.

Step 7: Prepare for the morning.
Avoid a stressful morning by picking out your clothes for the next day, taking a shower and getting to bed early.

Step 8: Face it.
The day following the spread of a rumor centered around you is the most difficult. Once you make it to quitting time on that particular day, the gossip is bound to die down.

By this point, you’ve impressed your co-workers—millennial age and our parents’ age group alike—by maintaining your dignity. On the morning of day three, there will be new gossip alive and well—and your story will become a memory.