Gossip is all around—read in scandal blogs on the Internet, heard from family over dinner, discussed by friends, and passed around in hushed tones at the water cooler and around office cubicles. However, one place one should deliberately and assertively avoid gossip is the office.

Avoiding gossip means more than not passing it on. It also means not being the subject of gossip, and not even listening to gossip. Office gossip is dangerous to your career, and the careers of your colleagues. If people are talking about you, your reputation and credibility are at stake. Even an untrue rumor can make people look at you in a judgmental way, weighing your appearance, words and actions against the content of the rumor. Then, they may continue to talk and share how what they observed confirms the rumor.

If you are the one spreading the gossip, people will stop telling you things, afraid you will talk about them next. Once you earn a reputation as an office gossip, people will view you as untrustworthy, and others in your workplace won’t believe in your ability to keep office confidences.Finally, as a bystander or listener to gossip, you become associated with those who participated in the discussion, again putting your reputation as a trustworthy person at stake. Whether people are talking to you or about you, you can still avoid getting involved, and you can keep people from involving you.

If You’re the Bystander
If you are in a group when a person bringing the latest rumor joins in and starts to dish, politely excuse yourself and leave. All you need to do is say you need to get back to work. Definitely don’t listen, comment or agree. By engaging in the conversation, you could be remembered as passing the information along, even if you weren’t. If the conversation is brought to you in your office or work space, tell the other person that you are too busy to talk, and continue with your work. Or, you can change the subject entirely and discuss weekend plans instead. Finally, if the person doesn’t get the message, a direct statement that you are not comfortable discussing someone else’s business will end the conversation.

If You’re the Gossip
You may be tempted to pass along juicy information that others may not know. As the holder of information, you will be in a position of power. You also get attention when the audience is raptly taking in what you’re saying. On the downside, the subject of the rumor is vulnerable to the judgment of others. Try to remember that gossip destroys the reputation of the gossiper and the subject of the gossip. It also can destroy friendships and relationships. You want to be part of a healthy office environment with open communication. Gossip and rumor-mongering add secrecy and suspicion to the office and derail trust, making the office atmosphere tense and uncomfortable.

If You’re the Subject
The best way to avoid being the subject of office gossip is to behave responsibly and follow basic office etiquette. The gossip spreaders won’t have anything to talk about. If you do find yourself the subject of office gossip, you have to quash it immediately. Go to the person you heard was talking about you and say, “I heard you were saying _____ about me. I would appreciate you coming to me with any stories you hear so I can verify them in person. I would also appreciate if you hear others talking about me, that you ask them to do the same.” If you must do this, keep the conversation between you and the gossip. Having an audience might inflame emotions and make the situation worse.

If the Subject Is Serious
In some cases, you do need to get involved. A person in your office may confide in you about a work-related matter, such as an ethical violation or sexual harassment. Listen to your colleague and give advice. Encourage your colleague to go straight to the human resources department if you have one. Most companies have large HR departments and give guides to employees explaining how to handle these situations. If you do not have an HR department, guide your co-worker to the person who handles your benefits and legal matters or to a trustworthy supervisor. Be supportive to your coworker and help where you can, but do not spread the information beyond your conversation, whether it is true or not, as your coworker may face repercussion.

Staying away from office gossip can help your career and preserve friendships. Showing that you are a trustworthy and upfront person will help you achieve success.