Call a halt to office melodrama. (Skills & Know-How).(Brief Article)

Everyone knows one or more office troublemakers. They're the people who hang out at the water cooler and gossip, tap out personal e-mails all day or criticize co-workers behind their backs.

With relaxed dress codes and other changes that make offices more casual, some employees are tempted to treat the office as though it were an extension of their own personal environment. The trouble is, when employees spend time enmeshed in other people's lives at the office, it lowers productivity and potentially hurts everyone at your company.

Here are some tips on how you can help your boss make sure your office atmosphere stays professional and productive:

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