How do you cope with it? What can you do about it?
5 replies (most recent on top)
You probably did it
Let me guess, someone started a graphic rumor about you and someone else. A long time ago, in another century, at another job, a fellow employee asked me out. He was married, and I gave him a resounding no. Long story short, he kept at it and when I refused a few more times he started a rumor that I was giving guys _________ in the parking lot after work. I was devastated and in my early twenties so I didn't know what to do. I stayed quiet. It was the worst thing I ever did. That rumor, or a variation there of, followed me my entire time working there. You make sure to report it to management. Make a record of it. Shout it to the rooftops, but whatever you do, do not stay silent. Don't let these creeps destroy your job. Rumors don't die.
Try talking to the person who gossips and straighten out the story by telling them what is true and what is not (if it is necessary). If not, go to management with a complaint and let them handle it.
Sadly there is not much you can do, especially if you have an outgoing friendly type of personality who talks to everyone, or is at least decent to everyone. This creates drama in such ways like this. Someone sees you talking to someone of the opposite s-x, and instantly you are trying to score with them, or date them. You are just talking but in the eyes of others, you are doing something else. Most days I feel like I work with children at my Club. But this type of behavior is everywhere, and is in every work place across the world. The best things you can do is just keep your personal life personal, and only talk about things that you have no worries about being out in the open. Me, I personally do not talk about my outside life. I give my co workers zero information that they can use against me. Which leads to speculation and guessing games, which then leads to rumors. You truly can't go around work everyday trying to squash every rumor or hearsay about you or try to justify yourself to everyone and prove to them that a rumor or hearsay wasn't true. Those who know you, and really know you and what is true and not true will be by your side? Why? Because those people will actually come to you face to face and ask you or approach you in such a way as to get your side of things, instead of whispering and making false judgements. Finally, as long as you know what is true and what isn't, then isn't that what is honestly the most important? I have had co workers in years past contribute to damaging something between me and another co worker, so I get the ugly behind it all. But if a person would rather listen to a rumor and run with it, instead of asking you or talking to you, then there is one thing you need to realize. Those are not your people!!!
Ignore it. That's your best bet.