GOSSIP-Does It Have a Place at Work?

Do the words "I heard it through the grapevine" conjure up memories of an old song, or maybe a television commercial featuring dancing raisins? For many of us it's also just another day at the office. Gossip is an unavoidable presence in all workplaces. But, is it also an unwelcome one?
Of course, damaging gossip is unwelcome anywhere. As is gossip that spreads false information. Office gossip, though, can have it's place and can be beneficial. That's right -- I said beneficial. In many workplaces information isn't very forthcoming. The office grapevine is the only conduit for carrying important news. When that is the case, everyone can benefit from paying careful attention to the bits of data that trickle down it.