When the Vibes Are Off at Work

You can feel it before anyone says it out loud.

The side conversations. The tension in meetings. The quiet after certain people speak. In this episode of Me, Myself, and AI, we talk about what’s really happening when the vibes are off at work—and why it’s rarely “just personalities.”

Using peer-reviewed research from organizational psychology and workplace behavior, this episode breaks down how gossip and chronic negativity quietly erode trust, damage morale, and spread through teams like a social contagion. Studies show that negative gossip is linked to increased stress, reduced performance, lower organizational commitment, and higher turnover intentions (Kurland & Pelled, 2000; Wu et al., 2018; Küçük et al., 2025). Research on workplace incivility also finds that even low-level negativity reduces cognitive performance, collaboration, and psychological safety (Porath & Pearson, 2013; Leiter et al., 2011).

We explore how these behaviors influence entire workplace cultures—not just the people directly involved—and why organizations often underestimate the cost of “toxic talk.” We also talk honestly about what it’s like to work in these environments: why people stay silent, how gossip drains energy from teams, and the coping strategies employees use to survive when leaving isn’t an option.

Finally, we look at solutions backed by evidence. Can people who gossip or contribute to negative workplace cultures change? What actually works—training, coaching, accountability, leadership modeling—and where organizations often get it wrong. Research on civility interventions and emotional intelligence training shows that workplace culture can improve when negative behaviors are addressed directly and consistently (Leiter et al., 2011; West & Brassey, 2022).

If you’ve ever walked into work and thought, “something feels off,” this episode is for you.

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Key References Mentioned

• Kurland, N. B., & Pelled, L. H. (2000). Passing the word: Toward a model of gossip and power in the workplace. Academy of Management Review.

• Wu, L. Z., et al. (2018). The effect of workplace gossip on employee outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology.

• Küçük, A., et al. (2025). Workplace gossip, loneliness, and turnover intention. Journal of Management & Organization.

• Porath, C., & Pearson, C. (2013). The price of incivility. Harvard Business Review.

• Leiter, M. P., et al. (2011). The impact of civility interventions on workplace culture. Journal of Applied Psychology.

• West, T., & Brassey, J. (2022). Addressing toxic workplace behavior. McKinsey Health Institute.