Caught in the Act of Bad-Mouthing a Co-Worker

Danny Goldin, Special to CareerBuilder

It's never a good feeling to catch a co-worker bad-mouthing you. It can result in a lack of self-confidence and bring back not-so-pleasant memories of being teased by older siblings at home or bigger kids at grade school.

Being caught dishing out unkind remarks can be even worse. It's one thing to offer constructive criticism, as long as you are in a position where it's acceptable to do so. It's inexcusable, however, to belittle a co-worker simply for gossip's sake. Being caught bad-mouthing a co-worker in such a manner can show immaturity and maliciousness on your part and cause a strained relationship with the target of your remarks.