Why you should encourage office gossip

As a general rule, office gossip is something that most bosses abhor - linking it to a loss of productivity and diminished staff morale.

However, one CEO is actively encouraging his employees to natter with each other. Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst has a completely different view on the issue of workplace gossip. In an interview with Business Insider, he explained why: “Rule of thumb when it comes to office gossip: If you have more truth telling at the water cooler than in meetings, you've got a problem.

“You want to get to a place where people feel safe to share their thoughts, feelings and opinions about a situation, beyond the water cooler.

“The benefits of open, constructive dialogue are innumerable. As a leader, you can get a more accurate pulse on your organisation. What are people excited about? Where are their questions? All of those things matter.