GOSSIPS!!!!!

[spitfire78]

Why, oh why are people so interested in gossiping???  The wife of one of my bosses is having surgery today.  He told me about it on Thursday and he told me why.  He did not tell me whether or not this was common knowledge.  I am sure he told some of the other bosses in his department why she is having surgery, and some of the workers in the department know that she is having surgery but I don't know if they know why.  I have talked to no one about this.  There is the potential for a serious illness and if, in fact, that happens, I am sure everyone will know about it in time.  

Now, the workers in the department want to send flowers to her, so one of the other bosses came to me to ask me to get her room number.  Unfortunately, when he approached me about it I was in the office of "Miss Must-Know-It-All."  As soon as he started speaking about it, I promptly walked out of her office so that he would have to follow me, but of course her ever-vigilent antennae had already picked it up.  She tried to grill the other boss but I think he realized his mistake immediately and fled after saying that she was in the hospital having surgery.  It wasn't a minute later that she was in my office (in fact, she must have just about followed me in!) to ask me why his wife was having surgery!  My answer - "I don't know that I'm at liberty to disclose that."  I think that actually threw her a bit because she said ok, but then she just stood there staring at me for several minutes as if perhaps I would change my mind if she stared long enough.  After I made my proclamation, I turned around and just went to work and eventually she went away.  Now, she was not asking out of concern - she has nothing whatsoever to do with this department or this boss.  She just wanted to know.  I can guarantee that she will know before the end of the day because she will call everyone she knows until she finds out, and the process of her "investigation" will tip off other people (the I-don't-know-but-be-sure-to-let-me-know-what-you-find-out crowd)

If I had been in her shoes and had overheard that, I would have simply said, "I hope it's nothing serioius and that she'll be better soon."  I wouldn't even dream of trying to pry like that.  What makes people think that they have the right to snoop?  I just don't understand it.

Sigh, well at least I got that off my chest.  Thanks for listening to my vent!

[Katie G]

What unmitigated gall!  You can be darn sure she wouldn't appreciate HER personal business being the subject of office discussions!  (Gossips never do, you know.) Good on ya for putting her in her place!  

[Jackie G]

I agree - we all love a good gossip.

But . . . when it comes to things like people's health, never!

Jackie
www.secretarialsummit.com
Peer Moderator

[spitfire78]

I totally agree, Jackie.  Gossip about work-related matters is one thing (though I try to steer clear of that as much as possible, too!).  But, in my opinion, gossip about someone's personal life is totally inappropriate.

[sobriquetnic]

Hi there

I found 'gossiping' to be one of my biggest problems once I became the main PA in our office.

I had previously worked in the office in the IT department, but had never really felt the need to gossip as I had previously been the victim of it and didn't like it at all!  When I became PA to our Deputy MD, he stressed how important it was for him to be able to trust me and I totally respected that.

Anyway....the girl that had the job before me for a while couldn't come back to it after maternity leave as she reduced her hours greatly.  I did not tell her anything that my boss had told me in confidence as I did not feel she needed to know any more.  Whenever she found out something later from elsewhere (e.g. once it was common knowledge) she always seemed slightly peeved that I had not told her.

As far as I am concerned, when my boss says 'just between us' that means exactly that.  I simply cannot risk his trust by divulging certain pieces of information.

All the best,
Nicola.