Anita!

HI there and thanks so much for your advice. Yes, I don’t gossip. That is one of the reasons I left my previous employer.

Thank you for reminding me that I should not be friends with my co workers. Sage advice. I don’t know what it is about me, but I feel that I need to be their sounding board in order to be accepted. I know I do it to myself.

Why do people get upset with you when you don’t relay information or engage in gossip (when it’s about them)? I didn’t respond, just looked at her sheepishly when she demanded to know what was said about her. She stomped off and didn’t speak to me for the rest of the day. Do I go see her on Monday and say, “I’m new here, don’t want any trouble, and don’t want to get involved in this”?

Its very difficult for me to handle interpersonal conflicts as I just want to keep the peace and do my work.