The Walls Have Ears, So Speak Accordingly

I have been informed by a few people and news articles that there is spying going on in some workplaces, including employers being able to monitor phone calls and emails. Not only that, some nearby workers take sound bites from hearsay by the water coolers and lunch rooms. It should be no surprise that there is very little privacy any more - unless you stay in the bathroom all day.

First of all, you don't know who is 'keylogging' your computer habits or listening into or recording phone calls, so it should be no surprise that it may be happening to you at work and it appears to be a trend in this information age.

Scanning the airwaves
I once knew a guy who had a radio scanner and he could pick up transmissions from cell phones and two-way radios as well as land-lines, so long as a cell phone was connected to it. He couldn't do anything with the information, because it was unethical and illegal, but his scanner was bought legally, so he could still listen in whenever he wanted. Many neighborhood converstions were there for his listening pleasure.

Big brother is watching, but not speaking
It should be noted that many authorities who spy on the public, looking for the bad people, but seeing what the good are up to, are often not allowed to use the information they collect. They are really looking for bad stuff, but can stumble on just about anything with the right tools.

So, there are eyes and ears everywhere.

The problem with gossip at work
People tend to gossip about negative situations at work because dirt is much more interesting than purity. If we did things perfectly correct every time and wore a perfect smile, people would make fun of you because you are perfect. But, there's no such thing as a perfect world.

People 'want the dirt' because it makes the workplace more interesting and breaks up the monotony. So, monotony appears to be a problem. I'd rather hear about an advancement someone has made to a process to make work easier and to progress rather than hear about everybody's dirt.

But, dirt is not always dirty!
Dirt, monotony and compromised productivity make for a poor workplace. Instead of spreading problems around, perhaps people could discuss problems and perhaps suggest improvments, rather than waste time gossiping for the sake of gossiping.

Dirt is a sign of entropy and if treated as such, it can be fixed IF those directly involved are willing to take the initiative. If your kitchen is filthy and you never clean it, it will take longer to cook your dinner. Cleaning is simply and so obviously a way of maintaining cleanliness. As a restaurant employee years ago, we were constantly reminded to 'clean as you go', but I'm amazed at how many workplaces don't think about their staff in the same way.

How to keep the dirt clean
There are a couple of things anybody could do at work to avoid animosity and turn gossip into constructive criticism. Because we are very emotional beings, these steps may require some effort to implement. Here they are:

1) ALWAYS communicate as if you are going on record. I carefully craft my words when communicating in different work environments and speak as if they are standing right in front of me. I imagine their face when reacting to what I say and expect to turn a scowl into a smile by what I say. It simply works because it forces you to be professional, sincere and pleasant. I write emails the same way. This step can help you avoid getting fired as well.

2) Offer suggestions for improvment. After discussing the problems, offer solutions with whomever you are talking to so you can have an intelligent conversation.

3) Communicate with those directly involved. Think about how you are going to bring up the topic before you do it and consider all outcomes, then be sure to bring your solutions to the person in question. He or she might initially be upset, but the outcome should be positive. If not, go higher; some people just cannot be reasoned with by peers - they need to hear it from higher up. BUT, never threaten them with an ultimatum, just mention you would like to help resolve the problem.

4) Sensitive or private information should either be challenged or ignored. You can ask the 'reporter' where they got their information, but you may never be able to say anything about it ever again. Also, be careful of who you discuss it with - some information should just be left alone.

Help promote a healthy workplace by cleaning up the dirt as you go, or leave it in the sandbox.