IABC|Utah

IABC Utah presents “Organizational Gossip.” The meeting will be held April 22, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westminster College, Special Events Room, Dolores Dore Eccles Health, Wellness, & Recreation Center (West of the Shaw Student Center), 1840 South 1300 East Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gossip is an indisputable fact of life in most workplaces. Susan Hafen, a professor at Weber State University, has conducted research on workplace gossip and found that some forms of gossip in the workplace might not be such a bad thing, especially if organizations can tap into the positive components of gossip as a tool to create organizational heroes or to circulate cautionary tales about the consequences of breaking rules.

She suggests human resource departments often function as a gossip-information revolving door, framing information as gossip or gossip as information, depending on the situation and the employees involved. In short, management uses gossip, just as employees do, to promote favorable images and to have an “ear to the ground.” When gossip turns negative, the question is not “how to eliminate it?” but “what is it telling us?”.

Her latest research on gender differences in workplace gossip focuses on six different functions of gossip and how men and women “do it differently.” What she hopes to learn from future research is not just how gendered gossip works in organizations, but how to use an ethics of gossip.

Luncheon cost for IABC members is $18 for pre-registering online or $20 at the door, $25 for non-members and $15 for students.

When: Tuesday, April 22, 2007
Time: 11:30 am - 1 pm

Networking begins at 11:30; the presentation begins at noon and ends at 1:00 pm.

Where: Westminster College, Special Events Room

Dolores Dore Eccles Health, Wellness, & Athletic Center
(West of the Shaw Student Center)
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, Utah

Free parking is available in the parking structure on 1800 South.

Cost: IABC Utah members $18 pre-register online, $20 at the door; $15 students;
$25 non-members

Register online or contact Lori Whipple at 961-6042 or lori.whipple@rxamerica.com.

Continue reading ‘“Organizational Gossip” - Dr. Susan Hafen, Professor, Weber State University’