Editing Gossip (section)

=== Negative consequences of the gossip ===
Some serious negative consequences of gossip may include:<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/feap/newsletters/workplace-gossip.pdf |title=Workplace Gossip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127130859/http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/feap/newsletters/workplace-gossip.pdf |archive-date=2007-11-27 |first=Kit |last=Hennessy |website=Patient Care at UVA Health}}</ref>
* Lost productivity and time wasting
* Erosion of trust and morale between members of the working community
* Increased anxiety among employees as rumors circulate without any clear information as to what is fact and what is not
* Growing divisiveness among employees as people "take sides", risks of "infighting" that may further deteriorate unity
* Hurt feelings and reputations
* Jeopardized chances for the gossipers' advancement as they are perceived as unprofessional, and
* Attrition: good employees tend leave the company due to the unhealthy work atmosphere and lack of trust
Turner and Weed theorize that among the three main types of responders to [[workplace conflict]] are attackers who cannot keep their feelings to themselves and express their feelings by attacking whatever they can. Attackers are further divided into up-front attackers and behind-the-back attackers. Turner and Weed note that the latter "are difficult to handle because the target person is not sure of the source of any criticism, nor even always sure that there is criticism."<ref>Conflict in organizations: Practical solutions any manager can use; Turner, Stephen P. (University of South Florida); Weed, Frank; 1983.</ref>

It is possible however, that there may be illegal, unethical, or disobedient behavior happening at the workplace and this may be a case where reporting the behavior may be viewed as gossip. It is then left up to the authority in charge to fully investigate the matter and not simply look past the report and assume it to be workplace gossip.

Informal networks through which communication occurs in an organization are sometimes called the ''grapevine''. In a study done by Harcourt, Richerson, and Wattier, it was found that middle managers in several different organizations believed that gathering information from the grapevine was a much better way of learning information than through formal communication with their subordinates (Harcourt, Richerson & Wattier).