Office Gossip Central

WARNING: 90 Days Until the Stupid Holiday Party

2008-09-25T14:08:00Z

WE HATE OFFICE PARTIES! I'm out the door everyday exactly at 5:00 pm because I can't stand another minute with my idiot co-workers so why would I want to spend any more time with them.

With the exception of the company's Open Bar and drunken drama that is bound to occur, our holiday parties are sheer torture. I'd rather have bamboo shoots under my fingernals then to sit even closer to Sweaty Arm Pit guy or Bad Perfume girl.

And for some reason, why do the people you've trained to stay away from you all year, feel compelled to talk to you and play catch up. Get the HELL away!

Hopefully this year I can find a nice stomach virus just in time to cancel. Someone please take notes for me this year while I'm home enjoying my latest NetFlix DVD and a pizza.

Your "Headlights" Are On

2008-09-19T14:40:00Z

It's really a catch 22. I love a cold office but I don't want to be accused of sexual harrassment. Really, how do you expect me to look you in the eyes when those highbeams are blinding me. I can see them, oops, I mean you, coming down the hall. Tell you what, you promise to wear a sweater on cold days and I promise to not walk around with a woody.

Free Back to School Supplies

2008-09-12T20:03:00Z

It's Back-to-School time again. Did you remember to stock up on those school supplies? No? Well don't worry because your employer has a fully stocked office supply cabinet and you don't have to wait for a sale.

Everytime you need a box of pens or staples or Post-It notes or even that expensive toner for your HP printer, just remember the golden rule: "One for Here - One for Home". Put that empty lunchbox to work and stuff it with goodies for home.

Still can't find what you need? A quick check of a vacationing co-worker desk is great for finding the perfect stapler. You can always blame it on the cleaning crew or even someone that was fired while he was gone.

I guess if you need any last minute stuff that your cheap-ass employer thoughtlessly forgot to order, you can always find them at the link listed below.

Office Confessions

2008-09-05T14:42:00Z

This is EXACTLY the site we love to find. Real people telling the world about office affairs, lazy or stupid co-workers, creepy/strange bosses and all for your reading pleasure. The site is pretty much a laugh factory except for the occasional sad confession. None the less, it’s fun to read about others telling the world about their offices. It’s like the biggest office gossip group ever, minus the water cooler.

True Office Confessions

Woohoo! A Three Day Weekend!

2008-08-29T13:00:00Z

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!!!!

"Cube News 1" - Cubicle Worker Newscast

2008-08-22T14:03:00Z

Any video that uses "Twinkies" as a visual aid immediately gets our attention.

Office Politics

2008-08-17T15:59:00Z

I guess GeminiGossip.com is correct about the Office Politics being like Survivor TV show. Strategy is working as a team and don't want to be the weak one and get voted off the "island".

Office Politics

Incompetent Managers are WORST than Gossip

2008-03-09T17:38:00Z

Guess we were right all along! An on-line poll, reported here, uncovered that office gossip isn't as bad as poor management. Also in their top ten is co-worker bad breath & body odor which we personally think should have been higher.

Gossip is Information

2008-02-25T18:49:00Z

We LOVE reading advice columns like the following found in the New York Times by Eilene Zimmerman.

"Q. Can gossiping ever help your career?

A. It can give you a leg up because it tends to be surprisingly accurate, said David Sloan Wilson, an evolutionary biologist, anthropologist and professor at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. “A company newsletter will never replace gossip, because you get much more and better information from gossip,” he said. Gossip is your workplace radar, keeping you abreast of changes at the company, even if there is no official communication about them. You can use that information to your advantage, Professor Morris said. “In more volatile times, people at the top of organizations often get fired or transferred,” he said. “People or programs you may have been betting your career on may be changing, and if you are prepared you won’t be left high and dry.”"

Ms. Know-It-All Talks Politics

2008-02-19T15:07:00Z

Even I know when to keep my mouth closed (well at least some times). One sure fire way to ruffle feathers in the office is to discuss religion or politics.

After Super Tuesday’s dead heat for the Democratic Party, our break room was a buzz with heated conversations mostly from Accounting's Ms Know-It-All. Ms. Know-It-All is an expert on every topic and she's never wrong in her views. Unfortunately, her conversations centered solely on race and gender rather than political views showing she knew nothing on the real canidates. Her conversations were later continued at her desk and over their cubical walls for all to hear until the supervisor stepped in.

Surprisingly, a recent Workplace Insight survey by Adecco USA showed 50% of American workers do talk politics in the office.

Other key findings from their survey include:

• Men More Willing To Share: While 48% of male workers know their colleagues' political preferences, only 26% of women reported knowing who their co-workers would vote for.

• Black Workers Make Their Voices Heard: The majority (59%) of Black workers who were surveyed participate in the political dialogue at the office, compared to only 37% four years ago.

• Politics Not First On the List of Office Taboos: Despite sensitivities around talking politics at work, Americans ranked religion, office gossip and personal life as the top three most taboo topics to discuss openly at the office, with politics and money tying for fourth position in this category.

Cupid In The Cubicles

2008-02-12T17:51:00Z

Cupid in the Cubicles: What about those office flings? By Patricia Kitchen NewsDay Inc.

There are co-workers who meet and fall in love at the office -- or, maybe, just have a fling.   And then there are married co-workers who meet and fall in love at work -- or, maybe, just have a fling.

If the first camp presents ample opportunities for workplace distraction and drama, just think of the dust storms the second camp can kick up -- You know, angry spouses showing up in the lobby.

According to the annual Office Romance Survey -- yes, Valentine's Day is a week away -- 48 percent of 945 employees surveyed say they've known of a married colleague who cheated on his or her spouse with someone at work.

And 40 percent say they know of a married -- or otherwise seriously committed -- co-worker who got a little frisky with someone on a business trip.   The survey was conducted last month by Vault.com, a Manhattan-based career web site.

Here's what Great Neck relationship expert Robin Gorman Newman wants to know about the findings: "How do they all know that?   Are people that open?   Are they that blatant?   Or are they being outed by someone?"   She says the findings speak to the unlikelihood of keeping such activity under wraps.

And while finding out about single colleagues who are dating may generate a little buzz, the involvement of married workers really gets the gossip mill fired up.   And, Newman says, it can lead to results such as losing out on a raise or a promotion once the boss finds out -- unless, of course, you ARE the boss.

Gorman Newman, founder of Lovecoach.com, tells of a job she had where a married partner was stepping out with a client.   When the partner's wife came into the office, "we all wondered if she knew."

And when he was all "lovey-dovey" with his wife, Gorman Newman says she and colleagues thought "you are so full of it."

While workplace dalliances are not among the top "precipitating factors" he sees in divorce cases, Ken Koopersmith, an attorney in Garden City says, "it happens not infrequently."   Of course, in some cases, two marriages end up being dissolved.

So, if you're married, are expecting a less than sizzling Valentine's Day and are considering making a play for a work colleague, here's some advice from Koopersmith: "Stay the hell away.

"It can give rise to all kinds of complications and disappointments," he says. "It could result in your losing your job, losing friends or losing your spouse. It's not a good idea."

Office Romance and Valentine's Day

2008-02-10T17:15:00Z

My office has had several “disasters’ because of people breaking the office dating rules.   Unfortunately, they usually seem to end with one person leaving the company.   The following is a great article from Diane Stafford with the Kansas City Star just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“Young workers, particularly those starting out in big law and accounting firms or as hospital residents, often work long, long hours. In such situations, work pretty much becomes one’s life, and work colleagues become one’s friends.

There’s hardly time to “get a life” outside of the job or nurture outside relationships.   No surprise, then, that romance blossoms at work.   It happens even when long hours aren’t the norm.   The work world is full of office romances.   Some — quite publicly — go horribly awry.   Sex and office politics can be a career-killing combination.

Fortunately, most intraoffice dating doesn’t end calamitously.   Some co-workers even end up at the altar.   But whatever the outcome, it’s smart to be careful with in-house relationships.   It’s a fitting subject for the week of Valentine’s Day, when desks tend to bloom with bouquets and romantic messages zip through company e-mail systems.

Here are some generally accepted guidelines for keeping an office romance safe:

•Bosses, don’t date your employees. Employees, don’t date your bosses.
•No matter whom you date, keep the public displays of affection out of the workplace.
•Don’t send sexually suggestive notes to each other at work, especially not on the organization’s computer system.
•Save the flowers and other gifts for exchange at home.
•For that matter, try to keep the relationship private enough that it doesn’t become fodder for co-workers’ gossip.
•Understand that an extramarital affair may bring work consequences.   Some organizations treat such affairs as contrary to the values it expects its employees (particularly its executives) to represent.
•When a relationship ends, be mature, civil and quiet about it.

Fewer organizations these days expressly forbid dating among co-workers.   It’s just not practical, given the realities of time spent on the job.   But when organizations are silent on the dating “rules,” the onus is on workers to self-police their relationships.

Train wreck or true bliss: You make the call.”

I Hate My Job

2008-02-09T15:55:00Z

When you have an 'I Hate My Job' day, try this:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson.

Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement: 'Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized '.

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, 'I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BEHIND THAN YOURS!

Watercooler Gossip

2008-02-03T20:49:00Z

Annoying Co-Workers

2008-01-27T20:24:00Z

THE WORKING LIFE
Co-workers are often annoying to colleagues
By Sharon Linstedt

So what annoys you most about your co-workers?

If gossip, poor time management and messiness are among your pet peeves, you’re not alone. According to a late 2007 survey by national staffing firm Randstad USA, 60 percent of workers said they’ve heard enough office gossip.
More than half (54 percent) of those surveyed would like to see fellow staffers be more productive while on the job, and 45 percent said their office mates need to clean up their work space.

Genia Spencer, Randstad’s managing director of operations and human resources, said annoyances escalate when you put a diverse work force in tight quarters for long hours.

“As the multigenerational workplace evolves, and with colleagues spending more time together, personal and professional behaviors begin to blend, affecting the overall workplace culture, attitudes and experiences within an organization,” Spencer said.

The survey, which polled some 2,500 working adults across the United States, also found technology creates conflict. Blaring speaker phones and ring tones, use of laptops and personal digital assistants during meetings and nonstop listening to MP3 players drew co-worker boos.

Addiction to e-mail and instant messages when direct verbal communication is possible also got a thumbs down.
Staffers are also sick (literally) of inhaling their co-workers’ perfumes, colognes, stinky foods and tobacco stench.
The intensity of the annoyances is directly tied to the open venues in which many employees work, said Eric Buntin, Atlanta-based Randstad’s managing director for marketing and operations. Back in the days of real offices, with walls and a door, co-worker idiosyncrasies were physically muted.

“If you’re sitting in an office alone all day, you’re not going to be bothered by it,” Buntin said in the survey. “But if you’re working in a team of three, or it you’re in an open work environment, you’re probably going to hear more of it and be annoyed by it.”

An informal survey of some local workers and their pet peeves bears this out. Amanda, a call center employee who works in a “bull pen” with 30 people, said noise is her daily enemy.

“Even with my headset on, I hear everybody around me. There’s one guy who acts like he’s on stage,” she said. “He stands up, waves his arms around and practically yells.”

Another loud talker complaint falls into the “too much information” category. High-volume phone spats with singificant others drive co-workers nuts. Ditto for over-the-phone make-up sessions with the aforementioned.
Eric, a real estate manager, is ready to yank the iPod buds out of his co-workers’ ears.

“You see the white cords around their necks and it’s like a ‘Keep Away’ sign. It’s rude and it doesn’t make for a very collaborative atmosphere,” he said.

Lots of local workers have food-related issues on the job. Smelly food, messy food and missing food are leading woes. “I’ve had things stolen from my lunch bag several times,” said Judy, a construction firm staffer. In a related complaint, she’s sick of opening the office fridge to find rotting, stinking food. While many of these issues might be cleared up via a boss-issued memo, the situation is trickier when the boss is the offending party.

Josh, a legal assistant, recalled a former supervisor’s odd grooming habit. “You’d go into his office to talk about something, and he’d pull out the clipper and start trimming his nails. Then he’d push the little bits into a pile on the desk and play with them. It was disgusting,” he said. Josh solved the problem by getting a new job.

Find this article at:
http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/251228.html

Office Gossip Requires a Public Service Announcement ???

2008-01-07T13:15:00Z

Merry Christmas 2008!

2007-12-25T08:00:00Z

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas...

... Except for the "nose whistler" in the next cubicle.
Please trim those nostrils before you head back on Wednesday.

Last Work Day Before CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-22T03:16:00Z

"Merry Christmas everyone, oops, I mean Happy Holidays".

What BULLSHIT that some co-workers are now offended if you wish them a Merry Christmas. Get real. Christmas is not a swear word that I should be worried about being overheard. If someone wishes me a Happy Hanukah or Happy Kwanzaa or even Seinfield's Happy Festivus, I don't go running into HR complaining about being insulted. Lighten up people or Santa is bringing you nothing but coal.

Smossiping = Smoking Outside While Having A Gossip

2007-12-17T02:16:00Z

Here's a great article found on www.personneltoday.com.

So recently I featured a posting about 'moofing' now Office Angels has coined the phrase 'smossiping' (smoking outside while having a gossip). Apparently, according to a survey revealed today by Office Angels, 14% of over 1000 UK workers prefer to smossip as a way of relaying office news. Let's face it we all love a bit of office gossip, as the survey continues to reveal that:

- Almost one in three office workers cower in the canteen or local cafe
- One fifth discuss more than last night’s TV by the water cooler
- 17% tinkle on their key board on IM/email or send a sneaky text

However, there's always a catch when gossiping. While 35% have heard someone talking about them behind their back, more than a quarter have had a working relationship ruined by office gossiping and over 15% have been caught discussing their boss’ behaviour.

David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, comments:

“While office chit-chat is part of working life there can be a fine line between social interaction and nasty gossip. It's important to maintain a professional attitude at all times, starting rumours about colleagues undermines working relationships and can lead to an atmosphere of mistrust, impacting on performance. If you are seen to start malicious gossip, both your colleagues and senior management will view you as someone who doesn’t think values such as honesty and integrity are important.”

His gossip rules are as follows:·
· Immerse yourself in friendly chit-chat, but be aware not to partake in gossiping at the expense of another employee. Office walls have ears and it is easy to trace gossip back to the source
· We all need to let off steam occasionally but it’s best to discuss other colleagues or your boss with people separate from your working life, where other people’s opinions won’t be affected.
· Consider whether you want to be seen as a gossipy person. Everyone likes to know about the latest office ‘scandal’ whether it’s a blossoming relationship in the office or a colleague handing in their notice but you don’t need to be the first person to tell everyone all of the time
· Be careful who you confide in. Be aware that whilst light-hearted office gossip does forge friendships, the work place is a very competitive environment. Only confide in true friends or pay a visit to your HR Manager if you’ve got something on your mind
· The old adage rings true – treat others and you would like to be treated.

Top Gossips Office Staffs Are In Belfast Ireland

2007-12-13T15:13:00Z

(An article in the Belfast Telegraph By Claire McNeilly)

Office workers in Belfast are hooked on gossip, according to a new survey.

Two thirds of local folk spend an entire working day chatting with friends each week and one in 10 prefer a good gossip rather than a conversation with their other half.

And, according to the research carried out by Virgin Media, the biggest gossip addicts are Belfast's office workers.

One in 20 admit to spending more than 12 hours each week gassing with their colleagues and a third of those surveyed cited a good old chinwag as one of their favourite hobbies.

The survey also found that a quarter of Belfast people engage in extended chats over the water cooler - with an unlucky few (5%) being caught out by the boss.

The hot topic for people in Belfast is last night's television as 12% confess to being hooked on the latest news from the Big Brother house and more than one in 10 regularly natter about their favourite soap characters as if they are their best friends.

And it seems the royal family aren't as interesting as the paparazzi might have us believe with only 3% of people in Belfast spending their precious gossiping time on Charles and Camilla.

Results also show that men are not far behind women in the gossiping stakes (35% and 48% respectively).

Favourite topics for male discussion are sport (47%) and their latest night out with the boys (35%). Women, on the other hand, prefer to talk about their family (60%) and friends (50%).

And, perhaps surprisingly - despite the stereotype - Belfast's taxi drivers and hairdressers featured at the bottom of the gossip rankings, with only 6% spending more than six hours chatting each week.

It also seems that traditional chat is being pushed aside as people turn to modern technology for their gossip fix.

Email and texting are Belfast's preferred method (58%), with more than one in six putting their speedy typing skills down to chatting on their PCs.

And one in 10 local people have noticed they chat far more since they have owned a mobile phone.

Online messaging services such as MSN and Yahoo! are top of the list for the younger generation, as half of 16 to 24-year-olds prefer to log on and chat as they surf the web.