If you’re a fan of a quick gossip with your favourite colleague by the water cooler, there’s good news.
Scientists have confirmed that gossiping about the boss is actually good for you.
In a new study, experts from Rutgers University surveyed office workers about their gossiping habits while at work.
Their results revealed that after dishing the dirt about the boss, many people felt guilt, shame or fear.
However, there was a surprising upside – talking behind a manager’s back was found to serve as a ‘bonding activity’ for workers.
‘Even when it goes against our better judgment, we all seem to gossip about our bosses from time to time,’ said study author Professor Rebecca Greenbaum.
‘We often tell ourselves, “I shouldn’t be doing this,” but it also feels really good.
‘This research unpacks why gossip gives us mixed emotions and how it can affect the rest of our workday.’
If you’re a fan of a quick gossip with your favourite colleague by the water cooler, there’s good news. Scientists have confirmed that gossiping about the boss is actually good for you. Pictured: Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada 2
Whether it’s a quick word in the hallway or a profanity–laced DM, gossiping about the boss comes in many different forms.
However, the impact of this gossip has remained a mystery until now.
To get to the bottom of it, the team enlisted 202 office workers across a range of industries.
Over 10 days, the participants were sent questions twice a day to assess if they had gossiped about the boss and how they felt and acted afterward.
In a follow–up experiment, the team surveyed an additional 111 workers.
This time, the workers’ colleagues were also surveyed to see if they noticed behavioural changes after a gossip session.
Across both experiments, the findings were ‘remarkably consistent’, according to the researchers.
After gossiping about their boss, workers tended to feel guilt, shame and fear.
Their results revealed that after dishing the dirt about the boss, many people felt guilt, shame or fear. However, there was a surprising upside – talking behind a manager’s back was found to serve as a ‘bonding activity’ for workers
However, they also reported a greater sense of belonging – leading to them being more collaborative that day.
Dr Julena Bonner, lead author from Utah State University said: ‘If we talk bad about our bosses, our guilt and shame may keep us from proactively working with them on a timely project.
‘But that same gossip can make us feel bonded, increasing team cooperation that could aid in other important tasks.’
Before you take this as your opportunity to run your mouth about your manager, the researchers caution that they’re not advocating for gossip.
‘We aren’t suggesting that gossip is the only way or the best way for employees to bond and connect with one another, nor are we recommending that we gossip about abusive bosses for social support,’ Professor Greenbaum said.
‘The more important point is to understand that gossip and our emotions play into our need for social survival.
‘Sometimes we protect ourselves from our own bad behaviors, like gossip, by avoiding those we may have hurt.
‘Other times we gossip because we need to feel closer to people who “get” our experiences.’
Before you take this as your opportunity to run your mouth about your manager, the researchers caution that they’re not advocating for gossip. Pictured: Horrible Bosses 2
The news comes shortly after scientists revealed the simple ways to spot if your employer is a psychopath, narcissist, sadist or Machiavellian supervisor.
In an overview of dark personality traits, published in the International Encyclopedia of Business Management, Professor Elena Fernández–del–Río, from the University of Zaragoza, outlined the different characteristics of each.
‘The “dark side” of human personality, as a whole, refers to a disposition to ethically, morally and socially questionable behaviours,’ she wrote.
‘Each of these dark traits is characterized by singular features such as grandiosity in narcissism, alliance–building and manipulation in Machiavellianism, self–control deficit in psychopathy, and enjoyment of cruelty in sadism.’
