Abstract
The phenomenon of workplace gossip has been explored in many contexts, yet few centred on the perceptions of those who come from diverse backgrounds—and even fewer from the perspectives of foreign nationals working in multi-national corporations. Through conducting a sound and expansive literature review, the need to study such was determined as necessary, given the lack of sufficient and relevant research in the area of interest. Also, using qualitative inquiry, the opinions of those who identify as foreign nationals in the workplace surrounding gossip were established. Additionally, the study tapped into the perceptions of South African managers and non-managers for a comparison of views. What was determined was unexpected. The findings indicate the concept of gossip is open to interpretation, although almost everyone is of the opinion that it most definitely holds a negative connotation. Furthermore, participants’ minds and organisations are to be held responsible for develo** and implementing policies that not only curb gossip but aid anti-discrimination initiatives and build for inclusivity and diversity. When it comes to talk of xenophobia and other relevant socio-economic and cultural challenges, findings indicated that most would like to openly talk about this but the sensitivity of the topic often acts as a discourager.
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Negonga, H., Mwabi, E., Carrim, N.M.H. (2023). Workplace Gossip and the Experiences of Foreign Nationals. 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_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2691-6_8
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