Gossip 24/7 - normal?

Workday
dunnoanym

Go to company page Workday

dunnoanym
Apr 29 24 Comments

Is it normal for employees to only talk negatively about others?! Whenever I’m talking to people here, whether it’s my direct manager, teammates, co-workers, all they do is complain about how “[name] is so bad at their job”, “[name] has beef with [name] and doesn’t know anything”, “I regret hiring [name]”, etc. It makes me super uncomfortable and I’m new here and all this gossip all the time is causing me to have false perceptions of my other coworkers as well as is lowering my morale and motivation. It just makes me paranoid about what these people must be saying about me behind my back and my mental health is in the trash. Is this a sign of toxic culture? Should I leave? Or is this stuff completely normal?

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TOP 24 Comments
  • Yes, definitely a sign of toxic culture. I’ve been in this sort of place before (pre-tech days) and it does not go down well.
    Apr 29 3
    • Yeah I’m seeing a lot of comments about how this is normal. Even if something is considered “normal” or commonplace, it’s not okay. If you are feeling uncomfortable now, I guarantee it will wear down your mental health, and affect your ability to perform. Yes, it’s fine to disengage, but that’s really hard to do when everyone around you is gossiping.

      Just FYI there are plenty of tech companies where the culture is good and this is not as commonplace. Do people talk about one another to blow off steam occasionally? Sure. But team members regularly trashing one another is not okay, and it’s not something you have to put up with.
      Apr 29
    • Workday
      dunnoanym

      Go to company page Workday

      dunnoanym
      OP
      Thank you!! It’s definitely impacted my mental health a lot and I can tell the team morale has gone down a lot ever since I joined. Like within the first month my teammate pinged me about how our other teammate is super incompetent and bad at his job. I never even asked or needed to know that…I know this sounds dumb, but nowadays I find myself spending a lot of time worrying about what my team thinks about me or is saying about me behind my back.
      Apr 29
  • New
    enBT65

    New

    enBT65
    If people are talking poorly about the company or other coworkers on a regular basis, you should leave. That is a hallmark sign of a poor culture.

    If you are at a good company, people should be so busy or so engrossed with their work that they don’t have time or feel the need to gossip.
    Apr 29 1
    • Workday
      dunnoanym

      Go to company page Workday

      dunnoanym
      OP
      Amen! It’s either roasting how bad the product is or complaining about other people. More time spent on those 2 than innovating and executing. I’m calling it a quits!
      Apr 29
  • Not normal for people to talk like that in person, but you can see on blind, many people in tech are elitist douchebags at heart.
    Apr 29 1
  • PwC
    trp4773

    Go to company page PwC

    trp4773
    This happens everywhere. Yes, they are probably talking shit about you when you aren’t around. Just do your job and clock out. Remain neutral in all conversations. The only relationship that makes sense investing in is that with the one who will promote you and the recruiter in your LinkedIn dm who will get you a higher TC.
    Apr 29 1