When colleagues gather to speak, the nature of their discussions isn’t always clear. On one hand, it may simply be idle chit-chat or catching up on weekend activities. This makes it hard to identify when people engage in workplace gossip.

While it may be hard to pick out, it’s sometimes possible to spot gossip by looking out for the following behaviors:

1. The tone of the conversation
When workers discuss their personal lives, upcoming work projects, or other “neutral” topics, there is a common cadence. This talk often peaks at normal voice levels, and will likely stop after a short time. 

With gossip, voice tones tend to be more hushed. These conversations will often stretch for some time as gossip is exchanged.

Rumors are also shared through digital channels. Beyond the water cooler, talk may spread via email, social media, and other avenues. What might start as small, negative comments about a colleague can quickly escalate into workplace gossip. There’s a very thin line between “just venting” and damaging your work environment.

2. Claims spring up without clear sources
Office gossip can suggest or sow seeds of bad news within the workplace. Talk of a potential layoff, news of unethical behavior, and other unpleasant stories will often pop up. But while this gossip moves around the workplace, it’s often hard to pinpoint where these rumors stem from. Attempts to find out will usually be stonewalled. One employee may point to another, and so on.

3. The topic of conversation is unaware
When gossip is exchanged, there’s little chance the subject is present to listen in.

These rumors are often hurtful or disparaging in nature. If you’re unsure, use this quick test. If the speaker would never be repeated if the target were aware, chances are good that it’s gossip. 
Collected from Betterup