WHISPERS IN THE WORKPLACE: HOW ORGANIZATIONAL GOSSIP AFFECTS THE OPPORTUNITY AND PREVALENCE OF WORKPLACE FRIENDSHIPS?

Abstract

This research focuses on the negative effects of gossip within the scope of social exchange theory. The aim of the study is to determine how job-related and non-job-related gossip behaviors of administrative staff at universities affect the opportunity and prevalence of workplace friendship. To achieve this goal, a study was conducted using data obtained from 300 administrative staff working at Karabuk University through a questionnaire. Hypotheses in line with the study’s purpose were tested using path analysis within the scope of structural equation modeling. The study found that both job-related and non-job-related gossip behaviors have a negative effect on workplace friendship. However, while job-related gossip behavior has a strong effect on the opportunity for friendship, non-job-related gossip has a stronger effect on the prevalence of friendship.