Yeah, so anyway, get this: some Chicago PR firm has fired three of its workers for spreading gossip and
now enforces a strict no-gossip rule at all times. Seriously, it seems the head guy didn’t like the backbiting and rumor mongering going on at his firm and, like, whacked the three biggest gossips. Seems way drastic, no? I mean, god, I’d be afraid to say anything about anyone. Like forever.
Also, how did the CEO know who the actual gossipers were? And, like how does he know someone isn’t, like, spreading malicious lies about someone else being a gossip? Like how does this dude know the point of origin? And, what’s with the pink slip? Like, wow, whacking people for talking behind other people’s backs? That’s almost anti-American. Jefferson and Adams constantly planted rumors and spread gossip about one another. So did Lincoln and Douglas. Even our boy W. had his storm troopers spreading all those nasty Swift Boat rumors about poor old John Kerry. Gossiping is as American as apple pie and baseball.
So, like, wow, where does the gossip rule start and where does it end? Will this PR firm also fire any vendors it thinks are gossiping behind its back? And, suppose the CEO caught himself making fun of one worker’s habitually bad breath? Would he fire himself?
Like, wow, I’m thinking this firing thing might just be a tad too harsh and a tad too self-centered. Like, ok, if you want to do it, do it. But why gossip about it?
Nat: I agree that PR people are, by nature, social animals. I also agree that trying to muzzle gossip is akin to tilting at windmills. But, the slam against women is uncalled for. Believe me, I’ve had to deal with some real male drama queens over the years. Men are just as bad as women.
That’s ridiculous. First off, PR is just professional gossip. Anybody in the field is basically just a specialist in gossip. Therefore, I don’t see how a boss could fire his employees for doing what their job entails. Also, PR is predominantly a female dominated industry. And, as we all know, females are gossip queens… So, if you fire several of your employees for gossiping, you might as well do mass lay-offs.
PR firms should be getting industry press only, unless they are speaking to a national audience about something that has to do with communications – either internal or external on behalf of their clietns or the industry itself.
If I were a client of this firm, I would wonder why it:
Hasn’t got my concern this type of exposure;
And even though I, the client, am included on GMA, why the hell are they are asking me to be a part of a story about them (I am paying them a retainer, remember!?!);
Care so much about non-carb meals instead of pitching my story (that looked so fake, too).
This story is a joke as is the silly employee handbook rule this guy has fired three people over.
Something tells me there is A LOT to say about this guy and that’s why he is so against gossip. I bet the same can be said for you, actually. No worries, I about to waste any breath.
Best,
lunchboy
once again repman, another pathetic post. first of all, this pr firm has gotten wonderful pr over this.
second, the employees interviewed all talked about what a welcome relief this was from previous pr firms where backstabbing was the norm. i can clearly remember from my days at a certain pr firm on 32nd and park how it was all about the “team” when things went great, but the backstabbing began when times went bad.
third, clients of the firm were interviewed and they talked about how happy they were knowing that the firm didn’t leave meetings or hang up on calls gossiping about them. and if you want to deny that happens by your firm you can do so..but i aint buying a bridge.
i could go on and on, but i just heard some great gossip that i need to spread…
Do you know what I heard about this guy who put the kabosh on gossiping at his firm? Oh well you won’t believe it! Well, let me tell you, and don’t you tell anyone I said this, because you know I don’t talk, you know that but you just won’t BELIEVE what I heard! Meet me by the water cooler and I’ll tell you- but you have to promise not to tell, OK?