Backstabbing in the workplace.

You are right, they are acting like a bunch of teenagers. I would guess that when people act this way, they are usually lacking self confidence. It feels better to talk about someone behind their back and they can always find someone who will agree with them. If this is a job you intend to stay in, maybe you can separate yourself from it and take the high road and ignore the gossip. I also started a new job, and surprisingly my boss commented negatively to me about a co-worker of mine who I had just met. The co-worker was very helpful, but my boss made some comments about her that were not very flattering. I will just keep my own mouth shut when I hear these things and hope I'm never the subject of such gossip.

If you know it is going on then it is pretty sure that management will also be aware of the backstabbing and know when to believe accusations and when to ignore them. Gossip, espesially among women, is part and parcel of office life.

I wonder about this too. I am the type of person who hates talking about other people. When I hear somebody backstabbing, I would feel really angry even though it's not me they are talking about. I would not gather with them, and I am sure the way I look at them will make them gossip about me too. But I just ignore them most of the time, and make friends with people who doesn't like gossiping. I am not sure about it, but maybe they feel very excited talking about other people. I suggest that one time, you go to the bad mouthed person and tell her directly about somebody else talking about her behind her back. You can see how her face will change. Lol. Suits her then. She deserves it. Lol.

i also can't understand why people do this. i have my fair share of backstabbing (with me as the victim). what i have observed is that the older ones in the organization are the ones who are good at this. it's definitely annoying!

I don't understand either but it is a common problem in most places. I just ignore it and refuse to partake in any of it when another co-worker is the victim of the moment. These people just thrive on the drama and as a rule do not have legitimate complaints. If they did, they would be handling them in a much more mature and professional manner.

I have also worked at places where this happened, the worst was when it was the manager and an assistant manager doing it. I was also an assistant manager, but... seeing as the other 2 were sleeping together (regarless that one of them was married) I got to be scape goat for all their mistakes. When someone is envious of you, or jealouse, or think that you might be able to do their job better than them - or they find you threatening in some way, are usually good reasons for these kinds of people to gossip. They feel if they can sabatoge you, they don't have to worry about their job security. Or if they think people like you better than them, then they try to discredit you. Its a sad, sick cycle, and it is rather imature. These are very childish tactics that they should have grown out of. But most of these people haven't grown up anyways.

exactly my sentiment, lol! i can't agree more, why can't people grow up? the sad thing is, they are even the supervisors/managers doing this crap, i wonder why they even got such positions when they can't manage/behave themselves properly. to me, there's no sense in talking about problems with someone else other than the person involved coz it won't resolve the issue that way, it'll just make things worse by creating animosity. on the other hand, some people do come to you to confront, like a surprise sudden attack that you'd feel like being hit by a bus. gosh, talk about hyper, lol! a mature way of dealing with problems or things we don't like is to talk to the person nicely, professionally and humanely. best to talk in private so there's no reason for anyone to be defensive just to prove to others who are around and listening that you are right. nice post! it's just sad we share the same situation (not for long, i hope). such act is indeed childish :)

It seems that that is how it is in the workplace..If people have time to back stab and gossip, they must not be getting their work done. Sad to hear that you are experiencing this and you just started..Perhaps you should bring up the topic with your boss?

Its horrible isnt it, its like being back at school..So childish..Thats why I loved working by myself or with males in a male dominated companies...Dont get involved though its just not worth it, if something happens then you are the worse person and all the $hit is on you then..

That was one reason why I left one of my jobs back in Samoa for another because of that exact reason (besides another). We only had a team of 8 to begin with and then it expanded over a few years, but the backstabbing that went on in the place, oh my, i couldn't stand it anymore. People will talk as soon as you walk out the door and stay quiet as soon as you get back in. I'm sure they were talking about me but I had enough after two years at the job and left for another.