Coping when your Boss is the Subject of Office Gossip
So you are overhearing a couple of co-workers talking and you realize that they are not just talking about anyone in the company. They are doing something a little disrespectful and bashing the boss. While gossip about the boss is always going to happen, it means different things to different people. Namely, the effect it has on you depends on what type of relationship you have with the boss and how your perceive the gossip.
What do you do when you hear people are talking about the boss? Well, the first thing to keep in mind is that the boss is a person just like anyone else, so the criticism shouldn't be too shocking. Almost anyone is fair game at the office, so you should realize that your boss is a valid target of dissent and some harsh words.
Keep in mind as well that the boss can't always be confronted with the types of words that you might be able to use when with other colleagues. You can't talk down to the boss to his face, which is why the boss might actually get more gossip about him behind his back. Also, it makes sense that gossip involving higher ups might be due to some sort of larger scandal, making the gossip persist longer.
What can you do? Unless the boss is a family member, you should keep your mouth shut. The boss can fend for himself, and you might actually find that the boss realizes, or doesn't care, about the gossip floating around. Part of being a boss is letting people be themselves and realizing that you are not perfect. Hence, it makes sense that people might talk about you behind your back.
Don't feel too bad for your boss. The boss actually is a grown up that can fend for themselves when the time comes to take action. If the boss thinks that the gossip is going too far than that person will be dealt with. Otherwise you should just let it go because it isn't your job to snitch on people or be the judge of what is appropriate speech.
Sometimes the boss gets talked about, and sometimes the boss might even know. The boss probably isn't that interested in the first place and has bigger things to worry about. If the talk becomes too disrespectful the boss knows how to deal with those people. So unless you are asked, don't tell on people, and don't assume the boss can't figure out how people feel about them.
