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A Review of Workplace Gossip: The Development of a Process Model for Studying Workplace Gossip

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Office Gossip and Minority Employees in the South African Workplace

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Abstract

Drawing on multi-disciplinary literature, the current chapter provides a conceptual review of workplace gossip and contributes to the literature in four specific ways. Firstly, we argue that workplace gossip should be separated from general gossip in the literature, and we develop an integrative conceptual model to support the argument. Secondly, we examine the similarities and differences among major workplace gossip constructs. We analyze five emerging types of workplace gossip and explain their unique characteristics. Thirdly, we examine both empirical and literature-based studies that have been conducted on gossip. We then develop a conceptual model that integrates the important characteristics of the gossipers, victims, moderators, mediators, and consequences of workplace gossip. Finally, we critically discuss the important areas where future research may be needed. It is our hope that this chapter provides an in-depth look at the phenomenon of workplace gossip and inspires future research. Implications of the research findings are informative to the personnel management, helping reduce the problems associated with workplace gossip too.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of East London, London, UK

    Kirk Chang

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  1. Kirk Chang
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Correspondence to Kirk Chang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Human Resource Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Nasima M. H. Carrim

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Chang, K. (2023). A Review of Workplace Gossip: The Development of a Process Model for Studying Workplace Gossip. In: M. H. Carrim, N. (eds) Office Gossip and Minority Employees in the South African Workplace. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2691-6_2

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