Unhealthy Work Atmosphere

"Unresolved Conflict In The Workplace Has Been Linked To Miscommunication Resulting From Confusion Or Refusal To Cooperate, Increased Stress, Reduced Creative Collaboration And Team Problem Solving, And Distrust." - Companies Pay The Price When Managers Avoid Dealing With Conflict

According To Kurkland and Pelled, powers that the gossiper has over the recipient
Coercive: when a gossiper tells negative information about a person, their recipient might believe that the gossiper will also spread negative information about them. This causes the gossipers coercive power to increase.

Reward: when a gossiper tells positive information about a person, their recipient might believe that the gossiper will also spread positive information about them. This causes the gossipers reward power to increase.

Expert: when a gossiper seems to have very detailed knowledge of either the organization's values or about others in the work environment, their expert power becomes enhanced.

Referent: this power can either be reduced OR enhanced to a point. When people view gossiping as a petty activity done to waste time, a gossipers referent power can decrease along with their reputation. When a recipient is thought of as being invited into a social circle by being a recipient, the gossipers referent power can increase, but only to a high point where then the recipient begins to resent the gossiper.