Gossip as evaluative sensemaking and the concealment of confidential gossip in the everyday life of organizations

Gossip is pervasive at the workplace, yet receives scant attention in sensemaking literature and stands on periphery of organization studies. We seek to reveal non-triviality gossip processes sensemaking. In drawing empirical data from an observational study a British Media firm, we adopt processual perspective showing how people produce, understand, enact their sense what occurring through as evaluative distinct form informal communication. Our research draws importance routines daily practice need differentiate general confidential gossip. discuss continuously informs learning that encourages critiques evaluation shape future action behavior. Within this, argue can challenge power relations while remaining part formal authority structures, constituting forms pragmatic micro-resistance. This shadowland resistance provides terrain for both criticizes preserves espoused values cultural norms. conclude secretive process provokes paradox enables constrains reinforcing simultaneously questioning work.