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The article discusses a trend among several corporations during the early 21st century that encourages blunt talk between fellow employees concerning employee performance and feedback, a practice known as radical candor, mokita, or front-stabbing. It examines a reluctance among some employees to participate in what the article describes as a culture of candor.

The article presents tips for employee conduct during their final days in a particular job, particularly concerning even-tempered behavior toward supervisors and managers, diplomacy in exit interviews, and the possibility of being escorted out of office buildings. The article presents comments from New York talent-management firm Alexander Mann Solutions employer branding services head Liz Weeks.

The article discusses benefits offered to freelance workers who utilize communal office spaces in the U.S. According to the article, some communal office space operators provide social perks and activities including yoga classes, in-office salon services, and organized field trips. The article cites research conducted by the organization the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) to state that 781 co-working space existed in the U.S. in 2013 compared to one in 2005. The article presents comments from the firm Village Workspaces co-founder Oliver Barry.

The article discusses electronic cigarettes in the workplace. Only three U.S. states have laws that ban the devices from places of business, thus leaving many employers free to adopt their own policies. Issues they confront include balancing the desire to help employees quit smoking with non-smokers' objections to electronic cigarettes.

The article discusses distractions in the workplace, focusing on the potential losses of employee productivity that can result from interpersonal conversations and interruptions between co-workers as of September 2013. Topics include open spaces in office design, cubicles, error rates, and the comments of researchers such as the professor Erik Altmann.

The article reports that Scott Forstall has left his position with consumer electronics manufacturer Apple Inc. Forstall, who supervised Apple's mobile software division, refused to sign a letter apologizing for faults with the company's mapping service and was consequently relieved of his duties. Information is provided on Forstall's previous relationships with his colleagues and Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, as well as the unrelated departure of retail executive John Browett.

This article discusses strategies for managing individuals with negative attitudes in the workplace. Topics include research indicating that an individual's workplace productivity can be damaged by a co-worker's negative outlook, the neurological effects of complaining on productivity, and the ways that chronic complaining can sometimes expose legitimate problems in organizations.

The article discusses how peers in the workplace can undermine one's efforts to lose weight, or at least not gain weight. Culprits include those who insist on sharing fattening desserts brought from home, and skeptics who question the effectiveness of co-workers' diets. Business lunches are another occasion at which people sometimes feel pressured to eat.

The article discusses what makes a tyrant in the workplace and what can be done about such persons, Psychologist Sylvia LaFair has identified 13 harmful behavior patterns that have origins in a person's family background. She says the first step in addressing bad behavior is to openly identify it in simple, non-provocative language.

The article reports on technology companies that provide services on site so that their employees do not have to leave to do errands. The example of BEA Systems Inc. is given, where such things as car washes, massage therapists, and grocery shopping are offered. This allows employees to spend more time doing their jobs. The article provides other examples of companies and the services they offer, and suggests that they do this in order to get more work out of their employees.

Discusses issues in the workplace with a particular focus on microwave ovens. Comments from a manager at a software company in Virginia, describing the filthy condition inside his company's microwave oven; Discussion of food-borne illnesses, which are sometimes mistaken for the flu; How a microwave oven works, indicating the importance of puncturing the skins of certain foods lest an explosion occurs that will dirty the walls of the unit and create a health hazard; Comments from Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern, regarding the odors created in microwave ovens from subsequent reheating.

Focuses on the changing fashions for women within the business and corporate environments. Preferences of younger working women, who are not looking for a uniform look; Ways in which women of power, such as Carly Fiorina, Andrea Jung and Meg Whitman, are dressing to convey a certain message; View of author that women are more willing to express themselves through wardrobe as the gain clout.

Focuses on conversation in the workplace, particularly among office workers. View that workers talk, but offer little of substance in their conversations; Comments from Debra Fine, a trainer and author on the subject of small talk; Discussion of the ability to chitchat in Bernardo J. Carducci's "The Pocket Guide to Making Successful Small Talk"; Examples of conversational openers, low-involvement responses, and sure fire closers designed to wrap up a conversation.

The author discusses a study by the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and aviation electronics company Rockwell Collins Inc. on the potential for single pilots to fly commercial jets with speculation on the necessity to have multiple people performing the same job in various career fields.

The article discusses the oversharing of personal information by employees in the workplace including an article published in the "Harvard Business Review" by professors Dr. Lisa Rosh and Dr. Lynn Offerman on managers who share information in order to show openness and gain the trust of colleagues.

The article explores the value of disruptive co-workers, which are individuals whose personalities make it difficult to get work done, including narcissists, the passive aggressive type, and the gossip.

The article discusses a survey of employees conducted by the marketing research organization Gallup finding that more respondents said they would prefer working for a male supervisor than for a woman.

The article presents an answer to a question regarding whether or not it is appropriate to address a coworker about his or her body odor, dispensing advice on the most tactful methods for addressing the issue and exploring whether to confront the coworker or use human resources (HR) to mediate.

The article looks at businesses' efforts to facilitate interaction and collaboration among their employees, as of 2013, citing companies including Internet company Google Inc. and online retail firm Zappos, and discussing factors including workspace design and interactive installations.

The article discusses co-working arrangements under which employees from different companies share the same work space and informally interact throughout the day, a collaborative approach that firms hope will help them solve problems and generate new ideas.

The article provides an answer to a question about the suicide of a co-worker.

This article offers a guide to interacting with co-workers in the U.S.

The article presents cases on employees whose career reputations were affected by a boss or colleague who has ulterior motives. Victoria L. Rimasse resigned from her job as a legal assistant at a law firm when her boss would regularly take credit for tasks she completed, saying she now has trouble trusting people. According to Vicky Oliver, author of "Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots," one must keep his cool if a colleague attempts to denigrate one's character, blame him for something he did not do or steal credit for his work.

The article examines the almost universal human practice of talking to oneself in the context of the workplace. Psychologists state that talking to yourself serves a variety of uses in what is known as self-regulation, such as goal-setting, which are helpful at work. However, it can also create an inappropriate distraction to other employees. Researchers note most instances of talking to oneself stem from frustration.

The article presents an overview of the impact both optimistic and pessimistic people can have in places of employment and in society in general. A discussion of research, included that which was performed at Carnegie Mellon University, which looked at pessimism and optimism and its side effects, is presented.

The article presents an overview of the role social comparison theory, in which people compare themselves to others, plays in the workplace. A discussion of several employees, including accountant Joe Pizzileo, who have been involved with upward or downward comparisons in the workplace is presented as an example.

The article reports that while allying yourself with a prominent executive at the office can be a shortcut to responsibility and promotion, when your patron leaves you may be left exposed. Companies work in much the same way as the animal kingdom, and when the alpha manager has departed, those under his protection are open to aggression from the new leaders.

The article reports on efforts being made by employers to offer fair flextime policies to employees. Examples of new flextime policies are given from Chubb Corp., RSM McGladrey Inc., and PrintingForLess.com. Some of the features of new policies are allowing all employees to apply for flextime, requests that employees justify their schedules in a written proposal, a regular evaluation of flextime setups, asking people to back up their co-workers, and placing the responsibility for scheduling on a team of people.

Offers a look at the use of outdoor adventures in the training of executives and the building of teamwork in the workplace. Claim that executives who go on outdoor adventures build confidence and leadership abilities; Participation of Clarke Murphy, a managing director at Russell Reynolds, in a sailing race; Ways in which Murphy prepared for the race and chose his crew members; Importance of diversity in the workplace.

Focuses on women executives in China, with a particular focus on working mothers and their children. Comments from Peggy Yu, co-founder of online retailer dangdang.com, suggesting she doesn't feel badly about going to work and not spending all her time with her kids; Cultural aspects of life in China that help shape the women's view, noting they were left alone as children because parents were sent off to work for the government; Comments from other women executives, suggesting their children will survive just like the women did; Availability of low-cost day care.

Suggests that Take Our Daughters and Sons to Word Day has lost its appeal. Concern about what the children will learn from some employees; Examples of disinterest on the part of the children that are attending a work place; History of the take-the-kids-to-work program, which was created by the Ms. Foundation in an effort to introduce young women to the work world; How the Philadelphia law firm Pepper Hamilton spices up the program for the children visits.

Focuses on status in the workplace with a particular focus on the out-of-office e-mail reply messages. Description of an out-of-office reply and how it reminds others in the workplace the importance of the person; Excerpts from several automated-reply messages received by Pat Dugan, who perceives them as status symbols for the sender; Methods by which individuals can ignore e-mail messages, instant messages and cell phone calls; Perception of self-importance the out-of-office replies leave with others in the workplace; Humorous re-writes of the out-of-office messages, imagined by co-workers.

Examines ways in which individuals can prevent co-workers from looking at the documents on their desk or the work on their computer screen. How Carol Kromminga tries to prevent her co-workers from snooping; View that office privacy is a myth; Reasons why people snoop; Countermeasures taken by some co-workers to prevent people from snooping.

Focuses on the attitudes of individuals on Sundays, knowing they must go back to work on Monday. Similarities between the Sunday night doldrums of going back to work and those as a child when individuals were returning to school after the weekend off; Comments from Caleb Weintraub, a studio-art professor, suggesting he doesn't hate his job but still suffers from the dread of returning to work; Comments from William Bridges, an author and consultant on business transition, regarding the Buddhist way of thinking; Experiences of some workers and how they cope with the dread of returning to the work week.

Focuses on the state of telecommuting among executives in America. Example of Lee Maxey, who took a job as chief learning officer based on his ability to stay at home in Duxbury (Mass.) despite working for Pathlore in Columbus (Ohio); Reasons for an increase in telecommuting among senior management, including the prevalence of faster, broadband Internet access; Increase in the percentage of Americans that telecommute full-time and at least one day per month, according to Dieringer Research Group, a market-research and consulting company in Milwaukee (Wisc.); Advantages of telecommuting executives; Types of management issues that can not be dealt with effectively from a remote location.

Examines the issue of time in the workplace and how it is viewed by the workers and management. Example of John Bullard, who was a clock watcher when he worked on his factory line's conveyor belt and now, as an engineer-training coordinator, who feels there isn't enough time in the workday; Activities of lower-level employees in an effort to appear busy before the end of the workday; Comments from Geoff Godbey, professor of leisure studies at Pennsylvania State University, suggesting the cause of clock watching; How clock watching began in the United States when the country was a manufacturing-based economy; Changes in the work place as the result of the U.S.' service-based society.

Reports an increase in the number of chief executive officers (CEO) seeking psychotherapy. Comments from Robert Michaels, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Cornell University's Weill Medical College, who has treated top executives in the financial services and other industries; Potential problems for CEOs once they reach the top of their profession, such as feeling isolated without a confidant; Why executives may not make an ideal patient for psychotherapy.

Focuses on lighting in the workplace. Comments from George Tobia, a Boston (Mass.) attorney, regarding his distaste for fluorescent lighting; View of author that fluorescent lighting causes mental and physical maladies; Why commercial builders like the efficiency of fluorescent lighting; Comments from James LaMotte, a professor of optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry, indicating the lighting in most offices is far greater than it needs to be; Composition of fluorescent lighting; Technological innovations that have eliminated the problems associated with earlier versions of fluorescent lighting, including high levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotrophin.

Offers job hunting advice for job seekers or individuals seeking to advance their careers. Comments from executive recruiter Patricia Cook regarding the importance of attire, hairstyle, shoes and posture in a job interview; Results of the author's survey of recruiters, career coaches, business owners and image consultants, indicating the many ways in which appearance can sabotage the job hunt; Out of date styles, focusing on clothing and eyeglasses; Slovenly appearance; Too-casual look.

Focuses on the clothing worn by employees at summer office parties. Comments from one worker, indicating the factors that should be considered when deciding what to wear; Potential to leave lasting images with co-workers as the result of clothing choice; Comments from Cindy Senning, co-director of the Emily Post Institute, regarding the images that stick in co-workers' minds; Comments from fashion designer Cynthia Rowley regarding the connection between work and leisure as the result of office parties; Comments from several individuals regarding the wearing of shorts.

Offers advice to workers who are required to attend office meetings. Examples of the non-work related things workers do while in meetings; Comments from John E. Tropman, a University of Michigan organization-management professor who uses faculty meetings to grade papers, regarding the unintended usefulness of meetings; Estimated amount of money lost each year because of meetings, according to Tropman, who is the author of several books on how to make meetings more efficient; Terms used to describe meetings in an effort to make them seem more important; Comments from Bernie DeKoven, who ran the Institute for better Meetings for more than 15 years, suggesting meetings are ceremonies designed to reinforce the hierarchy.

Focuses on the potential changes in the working culture at Google Inc. that may occur as the result of the wealth created by the company going public. Description of the workplace environment at Google, suggesting it is not typical of the corporate world; Speculation about a change in a company's culture as the result of wealth; Comments from David Friend, who became wealthy after selling his computer-graphics company in 1982, regarding the resentment felt by employees after the owners became millionaires; How resentment manifested itself at Netscape.

Focuses on the different work schedules of employees in the same workplace. Morning routine of Margaret Wong, an immigration lawyer from Shaker Heights (Ohio), who gets into work at 6 a.m. while several colleagues don't get in until 8 or 9 a.m.; Stigma associated with the individuals who come in later; Technological factors making traditional work hours less relevant; Comments from Timothy Monk, director of the Human Chronobiology Research Program at the University of Pittsburgh, regarding the biological clocks of individuals; Time of day when its hardest to fall asleep, according to Thomas Weir, a research psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health, who has studied sleep cycles; Discussion of human circadian rhythms; Impact of the invention of the lightbulb on work and sleep patterns.

Focuses on the symbolism behind Brenda Barnes's re-entry to the workforce as the No. 2 executive at Sara Lee Corp. Number of years since Barnes resigned as head of PepsiCo. Inc., one of the country's top corporate jobs, to spend more time with her children; How Barnes' return to the workforce differs from typical female executives who leave to raise children; Number of corporate boards Barnes sat on during the past six years, suggesting she stayed in touch with the business world and new developments; Discussion of the changes in the American workplace for working mothers. INSET: Family-Friendly Companies.

Discusses coping with the job loss of a spouse who works at the same firm. Description of the journalism scandal at the "USA Today" involving foreign correspondent Jack Kelley, whose wife, Jacki Kelley, works as the top advertising executive at the newspaper; Statistics indicating the number of married couples working at Southwest Airlines, indicating the trend of couples working for the same employer is more common these days; Comments from Gail Golden, a consultant for RHR International, an executive-coaching firm, regarding the potential reaction of and impact to the spouse remaining at the firm; Recommendations for dealing with associates in the workplace.

Focuses on distractions and interruptions in the office workplace that can impact output and production. Results of research conducted by Sue Weidemann, director of research at workplace consultant Bosti Associates in Buffalo (N.Y.), indicating several forms of distractions daily; Average length of time it takes a person to recover concentration from a distraction, resulting in wasted work time; Comments from several individuals regarding the interruptions of co-workers who often like to talk or tell stories.

Focuses on the eating habits of co-workers. Estimated amounts of bacteria on desktops, mouse pads and keyboards relative to the average toilet seat, according to Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona; Comments from Gerba regarding the relative filth of work areas; Results of a study conducted by the American Dietetic Association, illustrating certain eating habits of workers while at work; Recommendations from Gerba as to how to reduce contact with bacteria in the work place.

Focuses on the economic and employment conditions in Saudi Arabia. Statistics indicating the majority of private-sector workers in Saudi Arabia are foreign; Impact of oil revenues in creating a society that lost their desire to work; Population growth in Saudi Arabia since the oil boom began three decades ago; Comparison of per capita income in Saudi Arabia and the United States, noting Saudi Arabia's has dropped relative to the U.S.; Comments from Ahmed Hakim, a flight attendant on Saudi Arabian Airlines, regarding the changing attitudes about work; Unemployment statistics for Saudi men aged 24-35, noting jobs will play a factor in future economic development in the country.

Focuses on wearing sweaters in the workplace when the office becomes too cold. Symbolism of the office sweater, according to the author; Attributes that make a good office sweater, including that it should be a cardigan; Comments from Julie Smolyansky, chief executive of Lifeway Foods, regarding how the office sweater should look and fit, indicating it should never be worn for fashion; Comments from George Ritter regarding the habits of co-workers and their care for the sweaters.

Focuses on romance in the office. Increase in interest into the study of workplace romances; Results of studies by the Society for Human Resource Management, indicating several punitive measures for employees involved in office romances; Discussion of a California court case that resulted in a ruling favorable to management on the basis of a potential conflict of interest; Percentage of companies surveyed by the American Management Association claiming they have policies related to romance in the workplace; Impact of the culture of the work place on the decision to publicize an office romance with co-workers or management. INSET: The Price of Passion.