News From Behind My Hand: Gossip in Organizations

TLDR

Gossip provides individuals with escapism and social mobility, yet it has been largely overlooked in organizational studies. The paper argues for the significance of studying organizational gossip. The authors synthesize interdisciplinary theory and research to present four propositions highlighting gossip’s value, its under‑research, insights into work organization, and its role in protecting and sustaining organizations. The study concludes that gossip is intrinsic to organizational life and calls for increased theoretical and empirical attention.

Abstract

This paper offers an interpretation of the importance of organizational gossip. It draws together theory and research from various disciplines in order to explore four main propositions: that gossip is a phenomenon worthy of serious study/analysis; that gossip in organizations has been under-researched; that ana lysis of gossip reveals important aspects about the social organization of work; and that gossip is a social process that helps to protect and perpetuate organiza tions. It concludes that gossip is intrinsic to organizational life. Gossip offers the individual escapism and social mobility and has been undeservedly avoided in organizational analysis. Consequently, as a subject, it demands greater attention in the future in terms of theory and empirical research.