Business Networking - Office Gossip

Love it or hate it, office gossip is as popular as it’s ever been. Company bosses scowl when they discover time spent gossiping in the office costs the economy an amazing £43 billion every year. Which is no surprise when you consider the average office worker devotes more than three hours per week to the serious business of gossip and banter. But is there a positive side to all this chit-chat?

Exchanging some meaty gossip by the water cooler or in the tea room has long been an established and accepted part of office life. Although the figures are startling – it costs businesses lots of money in lost time every year – there is a positive outcome according to a recent survey conducted by MORE TH>N BUSINESS.

Office gossips everywhere will be pleased to know the survey concluded gossip at work can actually be good for business. Although difficult to measure precisely, in general it is seen as being essential for maintaining staff morale and wellbeing. What’s more it enables workers to keep up to date with social affairs and helps with ‘idea generation’ – all helpful for the smooth running of the business.

Just to prove what the office gossips have been saying all along, let’s take a closer look at those figures:

• 84% of the UK workforce socialise with their workmates
• 59% of those surveyed believe that what they learn from their peers and team-mates is more insightful than conferences or courses
• 50% + of office workers turn to colleagues for help or advice about personal problems
• 18% have benefited from the support and help of work colleagues when going through momentous life-changing events like divorce or bereavement

And finally here’s one for us self-employed folk:

• 61% of UK workers say they would miss office banter if they were to leave work and set up on their own.

Which is a very good case for getting out there and doing some networking!

www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/networking

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[ Office Gossip – Good or Bad? ]

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