'Good gossip' for more efficient office

Dutch researchers found that up to nine in 10 office conversations is gossip but it is not necessarily malicious.

A study by psychologists at the University of Amsterdam suggests gossip is used to warn colleagues about workmates who are not pulling their weight and even the threat of gossip can be enough to force lazy employees to contribute.

Researchers argued that organisations can "benefit from gossip that is instigated for positive reasons" just as much as they can be damaged by malicious conversations, 'The Telegraph' reported.

The study led by Dr Bianca Beersma and Prof Gerben Van Kleef claims that by distinguishing between different types of gossip, organisations can "minimise the negative and optimise the positive consequences".

They trace gossip back thousands of years, suggesting humans used it as soon as they were able to speak to curb "free riders" who would eat mammoth meat without helping to catch the animal.

"Speech makes it possible for group members to warn each other against those who do not behave in accordance with the group's norms," they said.

The study, which asked 121 University undergraduates to analyse their motives for gossipping, found that although some wanted to manipulate others, entertain themselves or find out information about a mutual acquaintance, others chose to gossip to protect the group from harmful behaviour among some members.

"By gossipping, one can warn group members against others who violate group norms, and it is possible that this explicit motive is a reason to instigate gossip," researchers said.

Beersma said her findings showed that it would be wrong to prevent all gossip or stimulate all of it.

"Very malicious and very positive gossip occurs equally often. It is very hard to say it is always this and always that. The truth is that both happens," she said.

Even the risk they would be gossipped about could change people's behaviour, she said.