Actually gossip is not at all work appropriate behavior, your SM should want to know and for you to feel safe and supported, so my advice is to ask to speak to your SM or to a SSV, whoever makes you feel the most comfortable. You do not have to accept that "it's bound to happen." No one trusts a gossiper. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this, hang in there!

I’m sorry to hear that the gossip has made your work place environment uncomfortable.

I’d say address the situation if it gets really toxic to a shift manager. Tell them you’ve been starting to feel uncomfortable because of the rumors.

Don’t dispel any gossip to people who tell you gossip; they clearly would do it behind your back too.

All in all, gossip just shows that those people really have nothing going on for themselves so the fact that your name is on their mouth reveals more about them than it does about you.

Also, I know how you feel. You go into work and realize your partners for that shift are the ones with the negative vibes, don’t let those bastards get you down. 💚

I’ve had that happen to me as well. For context, I’m a barista and my ssv spread rumors about me. I was scared to go to my sm about it bc the ssv treated me horribly, but eventually I did after about a year. Best decision I couldve made bc my sm had a talk w this ssv and other people started saying that they were having similar issues with the ssv so it got handled pretty quickly. The ssv still makes demeaning comments sometimes or tries to embarrass me but it’s definitely getting better. I suggest going to your sm or dm about the issue so that it can better for you too. Stay strong! And good luck because this shouldn’t be happening at all and it’s horrible that people are spreading false info about you :(