Mumsnet Talk

OOh, tricky one! I would definitely start of with a positive (great standard of work), then go into a "but". I think you need to tell her reasonably straight - there's always a problem that if you try to soften the blow too much, the employee doesn't really hear what you are trying to tell them, and ends up confused, or with the wrong message.

I think you need to emphasise that you have noticed this behaviour, and yes, focus on how her tittle tattle could have an adverse effect on the company.

Good luck!

Ok I can't sleep as I am trying to work out best way to constructively present issue at work

Mature Lady who works for me (ea) is prone to a good gossip and has started being a bit wordy about others who work for me - for example going up to a manager and telling her all about a member of the manager staff, commenting on another managers actions in disparaging way, being very high handed with emails, being quite dramatic about her perception of other people's inability to do their work

I need to take her aside tomorrow and guide her away from this behaviour which is started to negatively effect her reputation (and annoy the daylights out of me)

Her work product is great so I thought I would tell her that and then guide her towards protecting her reputation and actions that engender trust and respect .... But it's tricky

Anyone come across this before?

Normally I am very straightforward but because she works so closely with me I am a little (maybe too) sensitive towards pissing her off