Gossip now punishable by firing?

[IDrinkaRum]

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/town-fires-four-workers-for-gossiping/20070522134009990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Not sure if this is good or not. I've gossiped, I will admit, but then again, I'm sure everyone has gosspied at one point or another.

What do ya'll think?

[Boozy]

It sounds like the situation in the article could be better described as slander as opposed to just gossip, because the rumour being discussed was later found to be untrue. If the women involved knew that the rumour was at least likely to be false, then they would be guilty of slandering their boss and coworker.
Regardless, they probably did make for a vicious, hostile work environment. I see no problem in getting terminated for such unprofessional behaviour.

[Rapscallion]

One incident wouldn't be grounds for dismissal, I think. However, if they regularly got involved in harsh amounts of gossip that was damaging and the company had proof, then that would be one potential proper reason for it. I'd like to think the best of them, but I suspect this wasn't the first time, and I rather suspect that the actual comments were less mild than they were reporting.

It's one of those situations where I'd like to know more before coming up with any further opinions.

Rapscallion

[rahmota]

I'll have to agree if it was just idle gossip that got you fired then most places would have to fire 90% of the staff. Slanderous, vindictive, spiteful, or otherwise harmful talk like that is very unprofessional and definately grounds to get the boot.

This particular incident smacks of the second choice but still doesnt have enough information available for me to come to a definative conclusion.

[AFPheonix]

Yeah....this pretty much sounds like one of those firings that happens over a really small thing, but has been building for a loooooong time.

It would be interesting to see what their coworkers had to say about them.

[IDrinkaRum]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18883631/#storyContinued

They didn't win. They're bitter.

[AFPheonix]

Hmmm....the council is doing a "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" maneuver....