Intrigue and Gossip and Drama – Oh My!
The office grapevine is a valuable source of information. Where else would we find out what is happening or going to happen? Most business owners accept that information will be shared among employees before “official announcements.” In fact, official announcements can serve to verify or negate facts that have been whispered long before plans are finalized.
When the office grapevine goes awry, it is almost impossible to pull all of the pieces together before someone gets hurt or worse, a decision is made based on false or malicious information.
Many industries are known for the contentious behavior of the people who work in them. Employers shake their heads in frustration as they are asked about the every day activities in their offices. Small businesses are especially susceptible because people work in close proximity to each other and often share personal information. Also, small business owners share information about former employees during reference checks.
Employment law is clear about what information we can share about employees, what we can ask about them, and what we can use to make decisions. What no law can cover is how what we hear and see affects our decision making process or how participating in gossip can compromise our ability to be fair.
Employers can find themselves treating someone differently, making exceptions, or making excuses for someone based on information that has nothing to do their performance. Being a sensitive leader is a great thing, but choosing the right sources of information for decision making is even better.
Its a mistake that many small business owners make. You work closely with people and get to know them. You make decisions based on the information that is readily available. Even the smallest business can benefit from formalized processes. Job descriptions, written procedures for common tasks, even a sparse employee manual will provide a sense of security to employees and the business owner some objective guidelines for the things that really matter.
By: Dr. Yvonne LaMar
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Filed under Business by on Sep 2nd, 2010. 