Gossip Has It! An In-Depth Investigation of Malaysian Employees on Gossip Activities at Workplace

Abstract

This qualitative study aims at understanding the reasons for conception of gossiping phenomenon among private and public sector employees in Malaysia. Data for this research was gathered through in-depth interviews, which involved 15 informants that had been chosen through purposive sampling, aided by criterion-based selection and being conducted through theoretical sampling. In terms of gossip conception, data from informants have contributed to 8 themes that have been divided into two categories - pertain to content and pertain to functions. From these categories, the researchers conclude that gossip continues to be a firm feature of social and organisational landscapes, whereby without these social activities, interpersonal communication that harnesses the organisational communication would not be able to develop.