What can I do at work if I know that some people are gossiping about me?

[Anonymous]

And I know who it is? Should I approach or ignore it? If I approach what if they'll say how do you know

[Oliverlogan263]

Dang, that's a tough situation, girl. Dealing with office gossip can be the worst! I know it sucks to know people are talking behind your back.

I think the best thing to do is try to ignore it as much as possible. Don't get dragged into the drama or confronting them directly - that might just make things worse. Chances are, they'll get bored and move on to the next juicy piece of gossip if you don't give them a reaction.

Instead, focus on killing 'em with kindness. Be super professional and friendly towards everyone, even the gossipers. That way, you take the high road and don't give them any ammo to use against you. Plus, it'll make you look good in the eyes of your other coworkers.

If it gets to the point where the gossip is really impacting your work or creating a hostile environment, then you might need to say something to your manager or HR. But I'd try to exhaust the "kill 'em with kindness" approach first before going that route.

Just remember, this says way more about them than it does about you. Try not to take it personally - some people just get their kicks from talking smack about others. As long as you know you're doing your job well, that's what really matters.

Hang in there, girl. Don't let the haters get you down. Keep being your awesome self and they'll eventually move on to the next target. You got this!

[Asker]

I agree with most, but not confronting or doing anything about is is also bad because it means we don't stand our ground or take too much bs

[Oliverlogan263]

You're totally right, girl. Just ignoring the gossip and not standing up for yourself isn't the best move either. It's a tricky situation for sure.

I can see how just taking the high road and being super nice might not be enough. These people are talking trash about you, and you have every right to address it head-on.

Maybe a good middle ground is to politely confront them, but in a calm and professional way. Like, pull them aside and say something like "Hey, I've heard some things going around about me, and I wanted to clear the air. I'm not cool with the gossiping, and I'd appreciate if we could keep things positive and focused on our work." Something like that, you know?

That way you're standing up for yourself without getting all confrontational. And if they try to deny it or get defensive, you can just keep it cool and reiterate that the gossiping needs to stop.

You shouldn't have to just sit back and take it. Speak up for yourself, girl! Just try to do it in a way that keeps things civil. You've got this - don't let them push you around.

[Anonymous]

Don’t engage, but do document. Mark the date, time, what was said and who said it. Save and print any emails or text messages. Once you’ve gathered enough evidence, bring it up to HR.

[Nikki1989]

Don't engage with the gossipers or give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

[jahaims]

Ignore it like an adult