Tell people they are targets of bad (or ugly) gossip
If you can, identify the person targeting them.
Remedy Revenge Strategy
Ending toxic words
Example #1: Employee Target
This was my first discouraging bad gossip strategy. I was 18 years old and on my first job after high school. The company hired me in May to begin as a permanent employee right after I graduated. In June the company also hired a number of summer employees. I was friendly to all employees, permanent or temporary.
One of the other permanent employees — an older woman — began using bad gossip about a young man who was a summer employee. Knowing this was wrong and harmful, I waited for a chance to speak to the summer employee alone. I told him what the older woman employee was saying about him. The young man thanked me. Not long after that, I saw the young man and the older woman in the hallway. I didn’t hear what the young man said, but the older woman never used bad gossip about him again.
Example #2: Professor Target
I was a non-trad college student. I was the assistant to the professor heading up the department for my major. Several times I heard younger female students stereotype the professor negatively. I told the professor what the other students were saying. During a class period, the professor gave information to prove the stereotype was not true. I never heard stereotypes about the professor again.
Protect Yourself
Tell the target about the bad gossip in private and in person so the target can ask questions.
Tell no one else about your conversation with the target.
© Paula M. Kramer, 2021 to the present
All rights reserved.