Your Attitude Is Showing: A Primer of Human Relations, Tenth Edition

Rumors

Webster’s New World Dictionary gives us this definition of rumor: “General talk not based on definite knowledge; mere gossip; hearsay; an unconfirmed report, story, or statement in general circulation.”

All organizations have information collectors—employees who set up and maintain informal networks that keep them informed about what is going on at all times. An informal communication network is generally a harmless activity, provided that it doesn’t interfere with the employee’s personal productivity and is not used to spread rumors and malicious gossip.

Unauthenticated reports, or rumors, seem to originate and circulate within every group of people, especially when a group’s members have common interests and competitive goals. Rumors ...