Orientation (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name
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Orientation
Introduction
Gossip in the workplace develops over time as people pass rumors from one individual to another. In most cases, coworkers easily get involved in gossip and passing rumors because of the interesting information about other employees. Gossip leads to the discussion of private matters of other employees such as relationships, families, and areas of work they may be failing or excelling. However, in most cases gossip discussions focus on negative things about coworkers and especially regarding their personal matters. In reality, gossip results to negative effects within the workplace that can be detrimental to growth and productivity. Daniel Orozco story Orientation includes discussion of gossip and personal issues that affect the workplace environment. This paper shows that workplace gossip, which ultimately leads to discussion of coworker’s personal issues, leads to negative effects.
Gossip leads to wastage of time for the person listening and the person giving the gossip. A lot of time gets wastage in long conversations regarding a coworker who is not helpful instead of focusing on important matters at work. Orozco Orientation portrays a new worker coming into the office for the first day and the supervisor spends a lot of time discussing rumors and personal matters of other employs. The author spends almost the entire orientation time telling the new employee irrelevant information that touches on coworkers private lives. For instance, the author discusses that receptionists do not last long in the company, mentions Amanda Pierce’s six year old son, and declared all other workers who have love interests towards each other. This information wastes the orientation time and does not have beneficial value to the work of the new employee.
Feelings and reputation get damaged for the employee targeted by the rumors or gossip that circulates the workplace. If an individual becomes the target of gossip, the possibility of losing credibility to coworkers can become a reality. Orozco Orientation story shows how reputation can be damaged by gossip. For instance, Anika Bloom after an incident at work, she told Barry Hacker that his wife would die. When Barry Hacker’s wife died coworkers stopped trusting Anika Bloom, and they do not talk to her. Orozco’s story further describes how Colin Heavey refused to follow coworkers’ advice and befriended Anika Bloom. They claim that since he began interacting with Anika Bloom, Heavey character changed. These examples vividly show the devastating effects of gossip on a worker’s reputation.
Additionally, anxiety and divisiveness can gain root in the workplace when gossip spreads. Employees can feel uncomfortable working with a coworker when they have heard negative comments about the individual. In this way, it puts strain on teamwork which ultimately leads to poor output. Daniel Orozco story narrates about Kevin Howard in this workplace whom everyone perceives to be a serial killer. In Orientation, the author informs the new employee that everyone knows about Kevin Howard bad reputation but should act surprised if police officers catch him. This information can create anxiety and restlessness because of not knowing if the coworker poses a danger to others lives. Negative emotions can easily arise in the workplace when other employees try to relate with a coworker with a bad reputation.
Gossip destroys morale and trust in the workplace since employees begin second guessing each other. When a worker confides something to another, the conversant should be kept private because if not, workers lose trust in each other. When a worker becomes the target of gossip and rumors, one can easily lose morale as well as confidence working in the company. Orientation describes how morale and trust can be damaged by unsubstantiated rumors circulating at work. For instance, the author discloses to the new employee that Barry Hacker’s wife died, and now she haunts everyone in the office. He claims that she hovers like a ghost in shadows, penciling desks, leaving messages and even her echoes heard from a di...