Many employees can be fired “at will”, with or without cause, simply because the boss doesn't like them or because there is “bad chemistry”. In states of free will, employers can fire anyone for any reason. But even in other states, gossip can be considered to “create a hostile work environment” and may lead to disciplinary action that eventually leads to dismissal. Workplace gossip can be included in this definition, meaning that the employer is legally required to take steps to protect workers from it.
Even if a person who spreads gossip has no ill intentions, the author can do so, especially if the information is not true or is intended to damage a person's reputation or career path. Either way, gossip could be considered harassing and intimidating someone and opening the door to legal action. It's clear that it's acceptable to fire an employee for gossiping if the employer is an “at-will” employer or if the employer is in an “at-will” state. Some types of gossip can be vindictive and intentionally spread to tarnish someone's reputation.
When we talk about gossip, especially when it comes to things that are not confirmed (which is what happens in most cases), the level of trust between employees and employers decreases. Gossip can distract both the subject and the gossipers, leading to a waste of time and lower productivity. You may be fired for using the company's time and equipment, including your work email, to look for a new job. However, when gossip turns into harassment, discrimination, or is directed at someone from a protected class, it may be grounds for filing a lawsuit.
Gossip has many harmful effects in the workplace, even if it seems small and cannot affect anyone. Spreading juicy gossip about your colleagues is bad enough, but when it comes to the boss, it can have an even more damaging effect on your relationship with your employer. If supervisors have someone in a higher position than them, supervisors may have to take the blame for any performance or morale problems their teams are experiencing due to gossip. Regardless of where you are on the business ladder, these rules are essential to understanding how to protect your job, how to get a promotion, or even how to get someone fired.
That means dealing with someone who is a stalker, and that could include disciplinary measures, separating the subject from gossip, or even expulsion from the workplace.
