More often than not, gossip is part and parcel of corporate life. While this often has negative connotations, one study claims gossip can be beneficial under certain circumstances.

The authors of this paper, published in the journal Group & Organization Management, came to this conclusion after surveying 338 healthcare professionals, with whom they discussed topics relating to the social function of gossip in the workplace.

The participants were also asked about their perceptions of gossip when it concerned colleagues, their superiors, or the company.

The experts found that gossip can be useful when it concerns management or the company, especially hearsay of a positive nature. Participants are more interested in chatter that could improve or solidify corporate culture, compared with rumours that convey negative, anxiety-inducing ideas.

You might expect the negative talk to be seen as a power-gaining or attention-seeking tactic on the part of the rumour monger. But the academics noted that the participants didn’t view it this way: “People don’t value that type of gossip as information and just see it as someone who wants to complain,” study co-author Jinhee Moon observed.

This research also reports that “positive” office gossip – that which serves to initiate and encourage dialogue – can contribute to employee loyalty.

“If you’re experiencing difficulty where you work, perhaps participate in positive gossip with your colleagues and talk about some of the more bearable aspects of the organisation,” Moon said, explaining that this could help you gain some “personal power”.

The experts believe it’s important for employers to be aware of the positive and negative impacts gossip can have. They need to create a sufficiently serene working atmosphere so teams don’t see gossip as the only alternative to their need for recognition or fear of the unknown.

“To make employees participate in positive gossip, the company should treat them well, while those in upper management should be aware that their behaviour can show how much they care about their employees,” Moon concluded.