A co-worker or boss may lie also about their status, accomplishments, work history, or direction in life as a means to try and impress their peers. Lastly, they may at times lie just to get attention.
Sometimes it's to protect the liar from being punished, or to protect someone else from punishment. The lie might be to avoid being embarrassed, to hide an awkward situation, or to simply have others think better of the person telling the fib.
How do you deal with coworkers who gossip about you?
Eight Ways for Dealing with the Office Gossip
Understand the difference between valid information and gossip. A friendly co-worker is perfectly within his or her right to give you a bit of background about others—so long as it's professional. ...
They're angry with you about something but don't want to tell you to your face. They're jealous and want to take you down a peg but in a passive-aggressive way. They're insecure and feel the need to punish you for making them feel inferior.
Workers who feel insecure in their positions may resort to snitching as a way to cast themselves in a more favorable light with management and thus avoid losing their jobs. And of course, there will always be those people who just want revenge and don't care who has to pay—as long as someone does.
What is it called when someone spreads lies about you?
Defamation is a legal term for a false statement made by a person that injures another person's reputation or character. Libel is written defamation. Slander is spoken defamation. In most states, defamation is not a crime, but it is a "tort."
A cease and desist letter for defamation informs the recipient that you will take further legal action against them if they do not stop their defamatory statements about you. The letter should clearly identify the defamatory statements and specify the ways in which they are harming your or your business's reputation.
How do you deal with defamation of character at work?
If you believe that you are being defamed in the workplace, you should immediately consult with a skilled and knowledgeable employment attorney. An experienced and local employment law attorney can advise you regarding your best course of action, and how you should collect evidence to support your claim.
Slander can be embarrassing, humiliating, and even cause depression – or anger. But taking legal action is the only appropriate response to being slandered.
“According to evolutionary theory, humans have developed gossip in order to facilitate co-operation in a group.” By talking about other people, we can learn whom to collaborate with and whom to stay away from, something that helps a group work better together.
Gossip is a compensatory strategy often used to cover low-self esteem or feelings of powerlessness. It's likely your coworker is communicating this way — albeit passively aggressively and manipulatively — to seek connection. Your colleague may also get to feel superior by putting others down.
Manipulators establish a baseline when they talk to you and ask questions; they're not caring or considerate - they're using your words and body language to detect weaknesses. Then, they will use these for their gain - or simply for their amusement. It's always your fault, and never theirs.
They display defensive body language (folding their arms or glazing over you when you talk). They do not smile around you, turn their back when they see you walk past, or maintain poor eye contact. They do not acknowledge your presence in meetings and rarely approach you with work-related questions.
People who talk about you behind your back usually have low self-esteem. They don't love themselves, lack self-confidence, and have a hard time believing in their worth and abilities. As a result of these problems, they may be jealous of you and your life because they're dissatisfied with their own.
