Workplace Gossip Runs Rampant: 58% Witness It Weekly, 47% Say It Erodes Trust

Whispered in break rooms and exchanged over coffee runs, workplace gossip is more than just harmless banter — it’s a daily reality that shapes office culture. According to LiveCareer’s Office Gossip survey of 1,000 U.S. workers, the rumor mill is churning at full speed, impacting trust, morale, and even career growth. From breakdowns of trust to break room buzz sparking tension, gossip is taking its toll on the workforce.

Key takeaways:

Workplace gossip is widespread – 58% of employees observe it weekly, with nearly 1 in 3 hearing it daily.
Trust is eroding – 47% say office gossip creates tension and distrust, and nearly half (47%) don’t trust anyone at work with confidential information.
The #1 gossip topic is performance – 55% report that workplace conversations center around colleagues’ work tasks and promotions.
Gossip thrives in common areas – 48% say it happens in the break room or shared spaces.
Mid-level employees are the worst offenders – 53% say they spread the most gossip, while senior leadership is least involved (6%).
Personal impact is high – 43% have been the subject of workplace gossip.
Regret is real – 20% admit to spreading gossip that turned out to be false.

Workplace Gossip: A Daily Reality for Many Employees

The LiveCareer survey found that gossip is a common fixture in workplace culture, and a frequent occurrence throughout the workweek.

31% hear gossip on a daily basis, and 27% observe it weekly.
The most common type of gossip reported in the survey (55%) was chatter about people’s professional performance including work tasks and promotions.
Rumors about coworkers’ personal lives came in a close second for the most common type of gossip.

What this means: Workplace gossip is an everyday reality that shapes office culture and influences how employees perceive their colleagues.

Gossip in the Office:
More Than Just Talk

Workplace gossip is more than just idle chatter — it can shape team dynamics, influence career growth and impact overall morale. The survey findings reveal the negative impact gossip has on workplace culture and professional advancement.

47% report that office gossip negatively affects workplace morale, leading to tension and distrust.
39% feel that office gossip has a negative influence on career progression.

What this means: Workplace gossip can erode trust, hinder collaboration, and create a toxic environment that affects both morale and career growth.

Gossip Hot Spots

The report also discovered the individuals and locations that are the worst offenders for contributing to the rumor mill.

53% said that mid-level colleagues spread the most gossip while only 6% believe senior or executive leadership are the primary contributors to workplace gossip.

In terms of where gossip is most likely to happen, the ranking of locations most likely to breed harmful office chatter are:

Break room or shared spaces – 48%
One-on-one conversations – 36%
After-work events or social gatherings – 10%
Virtual chats – 4%
Meetings – 3%

What this means: Workplace gossip is most often fueled by mid-level colleagues and tends to thrive in casual, shared spaces.

Gossip Takes Its Toll

The high prevalence of office gossip means that many individuals have been the subject of rumors and lies spread around the office. As expected, the consequences are severe and have led to an overall lack of trust at work.

43% of respondents have been the subject of workplace gossip.
47% say they don’t trust anyone with confidential information at work.

Given the nature of gossip, the information spread is often inaccurate, making this type of workplace chatter especially damaging.

20% have spread office gossip they later found out was untrue and regretted it.
A surprising 12% learned they shared gossip that turned out to be inaccurate, but do not carry any regrets.

What this means: Office gossip impacts most of the workforce and has led to an overall breakdown in trust among colleagues.

Stuck in the rumor mill? Don’t let office gossip shape your professional journey. Create a resume that tells your story your way, and prepare for your next opportunity with confidence.

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For press inquiries, contact Elizabeth Buccianti, senior manager public relations, at elizabeth.buccianti@bold.com.

Methodology

The findings presented were obtained by surveying 1,006 American respondents on February 14, 2025. Participants were queried about the prevalence of office gossip, factors that encourage gossip and its impact on the workplace. They answered different types of questions, including yes/no, open-ended, scale-based questions where respondents indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options.