How do you deal with fake co-workers?

United States
May 29, 2010 12:12am CST
I work at a school. One of the teachers there is very friendly with me but talks behind everyone's back. I have not revealed much personal information to her because if she talks behind everyone else's back she will surely talk behind mine. How do I get her to stop dishing the dirt about our co-workers? I hate that she is such a gossip but then she has the nerve to smile in everyone's face. I want to tell her to shut up because I don't feel comfortable knowing everyone's business!
4 responses
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
29 May 10
just avoid her. when i meet someone like that, i just don't talk to her. i would talk to that person, but just go 'uh-huh' all the time. i wouldn't offer any stories or comment on any of hers. then they usually just leave me alone. not to sound like a loner, but i'd rather be alone that be with that kind of a person.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 10
I have to deal with her almost everyday so I can't avoid her. But I like your idea of not feeding into it. Maybe she will get the clue and not use me as her sounding board.
• United States
30 May 10
That is my biggest fear when I talk to her. I always watch what I say because I don't want her to twist what I say and then spread it around. I also don't want her to involve me in her gossip. Then others will be mad at me instead of her.
• United States
31 May 10
I keep my conversations as short with her as possible. For the most part I try to keep it all business. But for some reason she doesn't get a clue. I even tried to tell her nicely that I don't want to know about other people's problems or personal lives. It's like she just can't help herself or something. But it gets me upset because I am not even sure if she is telling it like it is or adding her own spin on the story.
@emerillus (467)
• Philippines
1 Jun 10
Hi zukichucha! I also have a co-worker who is just like that, she is a part o this particular "group of friends" at work but i hear her talking or complaining about another friend of hers who is also part of that "group." I really want to warn them about this friend of theirs but i just keep my mouth shut and let them discover for themselves what a backstabber that girl is. Anyway, i know she is also fake with me, and is friendly with me just because we are at work. Whenever she starts talking about her friends, I just smile and I don't comment.
1 person likes this
12 Nov 11
I was a victim of that kind of person, she spreads gossips about me trying to destroy my credibility, despite of treating her like a little sister. I decided to warn my friend who is also her friend, because I don't want her to be a victim someday, but unfortunately I did the biggest mistake. My friend whom I was trying to protect was the one's who told her of my warning. Now it was twisted, they treat me like I was the one gossiping and worst a fake friend. They spread our secrets to our co-workers, invented words I did not utter. God knows I was a true friend to them, I love them & I trusted them but I never thought they can do such cruel things to me. What can I do?
@maezee (42003)
• United States
30 May 10
I think the best you can do is smile, nod, and ignore it. You're right to be keeping personal information to yourself - and not getting involved in the rumor mill that this person is obviously thriving on. There are gossip queens/kings in EVERY company that I've ever worked for - they're all over! Unavoidable, really! The best that you can do is laugh it off and be ABOVE it. Can you believe that some people are so bored with their everyday lives that they feel the need to spread mindless and often untrue gossip about others in the workplace? PLEASE!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
29 May 10
I just don't mind them because if you do, they would just continue to do what they like to do..
1 person likes this