| Understanding that academia is not void of the toxic | | | | be horrible. Not only would it be horrible but it would |
| work environment syndrome is the first step in | | | | have some really negative influence on the coworkers. |
| recognizing that there is always room for | | | | It could literally turn into a mutiny of sorts. It would get |
| improvement. There are plenty of old adages that | | | | to the point where that poison attitude would be |
| teach us to ignore other people's bad behavior; all of | | | | contagious and would affect even the most positive of |
| us have heard them at least once in our lives. "Sticks | | | | employees. Changing things around to make your |
| and stones can break my bones but names can never | | | | workplace more positive can simply come down to |
| hurt me" or the old "what goes around comes around" | | | | not speaking to the negative Nelly or Neil, just avoiding |
| which is supposed to make you feel better knowing | | | | them at all costs. It will not improve things for everyone |
| that a bully or someone that is just treating out and out | | | | but will certainly improve things for you! |
| badly will someday get their just deserts. All of that | | | | Have You Heard About So and So? |
| advice is well and good, but to be frank it does not | | | | Gossip is the number one thing that most people |
| help a really bad or negative situation, especially when | | | | report as being toxic about their work environment. It is |
| you have to work with the person that is making life | | | | a very hard thing not to get caught up in and ignore. |
| unbearable. | | | | Gossip takes at least two people to travel. There are |
| Can We Please Show a Little Bit of a Positive | | | | a couple of things that you can do to improve your |
| Attitude? | | | | situation at work. The first thing you can do is refuse |
| Going to work every day is a fact of life, for most | | | | to be a party to gossip. Of course it is hard not to |
| people. In academia it would be nice to think that | | | | want to hear the latest news, but keep in mind you |
| everyone is there because that is their chosen career | | | | might be the latest news next week. You can |
| path. If this was the case than it would be safe to | | | | persuade the person that is revealing the latest and |
| make the assumption that although it is work it would | | | | greatest news to put an end to the story by stating |
| be somewhat of a positive atmosphere, because | | | | simply "Let's not talk about so and so, it is not right". |
| everyone would be where they wanted to be. This of | | | | After the gossip gal or guy gets over the shock of |
| course would be utopia. Everyone has days where | | | | having something so obvious pointed out then they will |
| they just don't feel like dealing with other people, it is | | | | at least not waste your time with negative chatter |
| normal and if it isn't someone's normal demeanor it is | | | | about other people. |
| largely overlooked and understood as someone just | | | | Idle gossip has ruined more than one career in |
| having a bad day. What if that bad day turned into a | | | | academia. Rumors that are fueled by gossip whether |
| bad week? Ok no big deal, everyone has bad weeks. | | | | based in truth or not can really stain someone's |
| How about a month long sabbatical from a positive | | | | reputation. There have been cases where rumors |
| attitude? That would be a bit unbearable for | | | | were dispelled with proof that they were not true, yet |
| co-workers. What if you worked with someone who | | | | the seed was planted and the recovery can take |
| everyday had something negative to say? That would | | | | decades or sometimes not happen at all. |