In this research, we are interested in the role of gossip at work. To further analyse the role
of gossip, we suggest that gossip shall be re-conceptualised into job-related gossip (JRG)
and non-job-related gossip (NJG). We propose that JRG and NJG differ in their
relationship with employee behaviour, for the following reasons. First, gossip may not
necessarily tell the truth and cause problems (Dunbar, 2004). Very likely, if the gossip per
se is not related to the job but to general social factors (such as relationship with girl-/
boyfriend, children’s problem at school), an employee may not treat gossip seriously in the
workplace and may not vehemently respond to the source of gossip such as colleagues or
the organisation. Second, DiFonzo and Bordia (2007) described gossip as superfluous and
insignificant. The purpose of gossip is to entertain and to amuse. Following this logic, if
the gossip per se is not related to the job but to someone’s personal life (such as massive
debts or drug use), an employee may not necessarily attribute the pressure of that gossip to
his/her colleagues or organisation. Very likely, at the individual level, the influence of
NJG may be less salient at work than the influence of JRG. Finally, gossip at work may
impact upon the perceptions of status, power and esteem (Rosnow, 2001). JRG shall have
higher tendency (or possibility) to influence employee’s behaviour, as JRG is directly
associated with the job, colleagues and/or the workplace.