For most people, gossiping about a manager behind their back is not considered appropriate workplace behavior. Office gossip tends to have a bad reputation and is often associated with conflict, negativity, and unhealthy work environments. Yet a recent study suggests these conversations may not be as harmful as many believe.
Researchers from Rutgers University, Utah State University, and Southern Methodist University examined the effects of negative conversations about supervisors. Their findings reveal a more nuanced picture.
Complaining About Your Manager Can Bring Coworkers Closer
The researchers followed hundreds of employees from a variety of industries and found a surprising pattern. Workers who shared frustrations about their manager often reported feeling closer to their colleagues afterward.
When you think about it, the result makes sense. Work can be stressful, and many employees face similar challenges. Discovering that coworkers are dealing with the same issues can be reassuring.
The study also found that employees who engaged in these conversations were more likely to support their coworkers and collaborate with them afterward. Rather than creating division, discussing shared frustrations sometimes strengthened team relationships.
This doesn’t mean constant complaining is good for workplace culture. Instead, the findings suggest that occasional venting can play an important social role. It allows employees to share experiences, validate each other’s feelings, and build stronger bonds with the people they work with every day.
Psychology Says People Who Are Always There for Everyone Else Often End Up Feeling the Most Alone, and the Reason Has Nothing to Do With Having No Friends
The Relationship With Your Boss Can Take a Hit
While gossip may strengthen coworker relationships, it often has the opposite effect on interactions with management. The study explained that employees were more likely to avoid their supervisor after speaking negatively about them. Researchers believe this may be linked to feelings of guilt, discomfort, or concern that their comments could eventually be discovered.
Over time, this distancing can create challenges in the workplace. Less communication between employees and managers may make projects harder to coordinate, slow down decision-making, and increase the risk of misunderstandings.
That said, the impact depends largely on the work environment. In companies where open communication is encouraged and employees feel comfortable expressing concerns directly, the need for behind-the-scenes complaints tends to be lower.
The Effect Is Even Stronger When a Manager Is Seen Negatively
One of the most interesting findings involved situations where employees viewed their supervisor as unfair, hostile, or emotionally abusive.
In these cases, gossip had an even stronger bonding effect among coworkers. Employees tended to unite around a shared problem, creating a greater sense of support and teamwork. Helping one another became more common, and colleagues often felt a stronger connection to the group.
At the same time, the gap between employees and managers widened further. Workers who complained about a difficult supervisor were even more likely to avoid direct interaction with that person, which could worsen existing communication issues.
