Dealing With Vicious Gossip At Work

[Hassan]

THIS MAY BE MATURE CONTENT!

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[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='zabbazooey' timestamp='1281831385' post='2157493']
Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it.

Yes, this is something I heard through a friend of mine who is friends with this coworker. There inlies the problem, it's not someone who is even working there that is giving me this information. I have no proof. I do know for a fact this coworker was talking smack about my friend to another coworker via work email (very stupid of her) so I'm 99.9% sure she is talking about me.

I know I'll never hear about it again through the rumor mill because my friend who gave me this info is no longer friends with her (friend found out this girl was backstabbing her as well) so she finally told me about it because she no longer had to worry about getting in the middle of things between two people she was close friends with.

It's a tricky situation all around. This is a very gossipy workplace, I'm not sure why I'm surprised this eventually happened to me as well. I just don't want any further backlash from the people who are giving her this information or from the coworker herself. I truly just want this to stop and go away. I just want to work.

You guys are great. Even though I don't post on here a whole lot anymore, I can still count on you for good advice. Thanks
[/quote]
You can't rely on what someone tells you that someone else said XYZ. Hearsay is meaningless, especially if its from someone who [i]used[/i] to be friends with someone else.
The only information your co-workers need to know about you is that you do your job well. Your private business is just that, you don't discuss it at work. Be polite, non-committal, and smile. If you take someone to lunch, next time take someone else, don't appear to have any favorites. They will stop talking about you when they have no ammunition, so simply don't give them any. There is no need to be friends with your co-workers, simply be friendly, your life will be so much easier in the long run. If someone says something to you directly ( which I doubt) write it down, date and time, and put it in a safe place for future reference.