This is just an eternal fact of the working world. From quasi-work related conversations in the kitchen to scurrilous gossip on the way to the train, conversation happens. And, as our workplace increasingly digitalizes, so do our channels of informal discussion.

So how do we manage this? Unfortunately, far too many companies try to suppress conversation between colleagues, using arguments ranging from “unproductive” to “disloyal.”

This is short-sighted, and ultimately counterproductive. It is demoralizing, making employees feel distrusted, and it’s not necessary. If HR is doing their job properly, everyone should be trustworthy… and by forcing your people out of the company environment to talk, you’re not stopping the conversation, you’re just pushing yourself out.

Give the conversation a home, encourage it, within lenient boundaries. You’ll show you trust your people, you’ll benefit from the goodwill, and perhaps most importantly, it gives you an ear to the ground with your employee base. Instead of a digital watercooler, look at it as a pool of internal business intelligence.