Angelicauk Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Hi I was wondering whether anyone else has come across this...... the office gossiper is my manager's best friend and she listens to every conversation I have with my work colleagues, even though she is not part of our particular team. Every time my boss is away from her desk, this woman constantly listens to everything we say and watches what we do, then tells my manager everything when she returns. The problem is that she only tells her what she hears which is not always the full story as she doesn't know the full context of our conversations. Does anyone have a way of dealing with this please, apart from not talking to any of my colleagues!???? Link to post Share on other sites
Rewind Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 a/k/a the office rat..yes I have one at my office too. She is my bosses secretary.. to look at her she's very quiet..but she watches everything, tries to read peoples lips, watched to see who leaves early and late and reports back to my boss daily. My office is toxic so it don't surprise me. She does work wrong on purpose, puts in wrong orders..but as long as his work is done he turns his cheek..may I add she's been with the company for almost 10 years and has had numerous complaints about her work but my boss refuses to fire her. I sugest running, not walking outta the place bc to have toxic and sneaky coworkers like that is hell. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Every manager has someone of this nature, who is perceived as close. The manager has a pipeline into the staff and the office gossip can gain power through association and the ability to spin poison on someone she doesn't like. The best way to handle someone of this nature is not to say anything in front of her, if at all possible. The less valid information she can pipe, the less the manager will rely on her. Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Powered Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Yes - i find the secretary to be in everyone's good books even though she is loud, cockney, trashy and shares info with everyone. why do they get so much attention? first rule is to become her best mate whether u like her or not - she holds more power then the boss. the boss usually takes her word as law, and she will be reporting back to him.she will do all his work and none of yours because - she can. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Hi I was wondering whether anyone else has come across this...... the office gossiper is my manager's best friend and she listens to every conversation I have with my work colleagues, even though she is not part of our particular team. Every time my boss is away from her desk, this woman constantly listens to everything we say and watches what we do, then tells my manager everything when she returns. The problem is that she only tells her what she hears which is not always the full story as she doesn't know the full context of our conversations. Does anyone have a way of dealing with this please, apart from not talking to any of my colleagues!???? I am this person's boss. Everyone thinks the snitch is this really quiet helpful girl, when really she tells me everything. However, I did not come to be a manager by being an idiot. I take everything with a grain of salt. I understand she has her own motives and I am only hearing one side of the story. One suggestion would be, if at all possible, to be more discrete around this person. You are right to be more cautious. As someone else mentioned you may want to try befriending her. I'm not promising this is going to work, but it is worth a shot. Link to post Share on other sites
Mary3 Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I am this person's boss. Everyone thinks the snitch is this really quiet helpful girl, when really she tells me everything. However, I did not come to be a manager by being an idiot. I take everything with a grain of salt. I understand she has her own motives and I am only hearing one side of the story. One suggestion would be, if at all possible, to be more discrete around this person. You are right to be more cautious. As someone else mentioned you may want to try befriending her. I'm not promising this is going to work, but it is worth a shot. Do you realize the stress that your office confidant causes to the other employees who want to be valued on their own merit and not tattled on by a bored troublemaker ??? Link to post Share on other sites
rina_r Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 It is disgusting: gossipers, butt-kissers, favoritism...seen all that. It definitely causes stress and decreases motivation. Link to post Share on other sites
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