<\/p>\n

In this case, the best informal way to deal with the issue is a quick informal chat, for example, let us say it is going-home time, and the person who has been spreading gossip is in the lift, alone:<\/p>\n

\n

Hi [Name], hold the lift please? Thank you.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Oh, by the way, I overheard you telling [Name] earlier today that [Insert Name] can be [Insert variable]. That is a rather inappropriate word to use to describe someone who has worked their way up through the company to be the first female General Manager. It’s especially disrespectful to [Name], who has never been anything but fair with her staff members.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Yes, she is firm and she expects her employees to work to the best of their ability \u2013 as would any manager. I have two pieces of advice for you \u2013 observe [Name\u2019s] work ethic closely, with an open mind. You will learn a lot from her if you do. And secondly, perhaps don\u2019t denigrate senior management in public places: what if [Name] herself had heard you?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Have a good evening and see you tomorrow.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a good warning tone to take with a subordinate if you want to avoid a formal disciplinary scenario.<\/p>\n

Keeping the talk confined to a lift or while walking out of the building ensures that it is short and sweet, and allows the person being spoken to walk away to consider what you have said. Hopefully, they will come to work the next day determined to show a bit more respect to the hardworking Shirley!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”0px” locked=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Template 3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”Poppins||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Script 3 | With a Work Friend <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Hi [Insert Name],\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I wonder if you could do me a favor: apparently, there are stories going around that I\u2019ve been having a lot of time off work and that I\u2019m lazy. I don\u2019t know who\u2019s spreading them, but I\u2019d like you to help me combat this.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The truth is that I have a persistent back injury from a botched surgery and I can\u2019t sit for hours at a desk: 8 hours in an office chair would leave me crippled for a week. The bosses know this, and they are happy for me to work remotely a lot of the time as I have a special orthopaedic chair at home. I can work for four or five hours, take a break, and then work for another four or five hours using my chair, but using a regular chair and desk leaves me in agony after just two hours. As long as I do my work on time, my manager is more than satisfied.<\/b><\/h5>\n

If you hear anyone saying that I don\u2019t pull my weight, please could you a) tell them to check my work log \u2013 they\u2019ll soon see that I more than meet my targets and b) let them know to speak to me directly, rather than spreading rumours? I know I can trust you to help me sort this all out.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Thanks, I\u2019ll see you on Wednesday when I pop in with my paperwork.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Cheers,
<\/strong><\/h5>\n

[Insert Your Name]\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

By emailing the source of the rumour without blaming them, you are cutting out anyone else who might interfere with your attempt to end any internal office nastiness, and you are avoiding any unpleasantness between the two of you. You are also saying that you trust them, and hopefully that will encourage remorse for their rude behaviour.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/bullying-scapegoating-never-right-word-scaled.jpg” admin_label=”Single Image” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”}||.wrapper {||position: relative;||height: 0;||\/* Formula is: (height \/ width * 100%) *\/||padding-top: calc(525 \/ 800 * 100%);||}||||.wrapper__img {||position: absolute;||top: 0;||left: 0;||max-width: 100%;||height: auto;” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code admin_label=”Working with Difficult People LinkedIn Learning Preview Video” _builder_version=”3.26.7″ text_orientation=”left” link_option_url=”https:\/\/linkedin-learning.pxf.io\/e2PMO” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_module=”10838″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”on”]If you’re looking to develop your communication skills for professional environments even further, we think you\u2019ll like the following video course from LinkedIn Learning. Check out the preview below: