03-11-2026
Employer Insight: New research indicates that employee chatter about the boss may benefit the workplace culture. Researchers from Utah State University, Southern Methodist University, and Rutgers University surveyed 202 office workers across various industries. They asked these participants twice a day over 10 days whether they had gossiped about the boss and how that gossip impacted how the employees felt and acted afterward. The researchers then conducted the same survey with an additional 111 office workers. With these additional workers, they asked their co-workers for their observations of any behavioral changes after the gossip session.The study exposed that workers tended to avoid their bosses after gossiping about them, usually out of guilt, shame, or fear of being called out. However, the research also showed that the workers’ sense of belonging with their coworkers increased, leading to more collaboration throughout the day. Gossip’s impact is stronger when the boss is emotionally or verbally abusive. Abusive bosses act as a “common enemy,” enhancing the bonding aspect of gossip and workers’ willingness to support each other. The researchers caution that they did not want to encourage gossiping, but they sought to understand how it factors into the need for social survival.
Generally, many workers say they are less connected to their workplaces and co-workers, particularly in remote positions. Research from McLean & Co. revealed that developing authentic connections in the workplace directly correlates with critical business outcomes. It is one of the “most overlooked and underinvested areas in HR.” (McLean & Company-Unlocking Belonging in the Workplace) Employees who feel comfortable at work are 5.7x more likely to be engaged and 70% more likely to stay with their organization.