Without a doubt, e-mail and instant messaging have made the world a much smaller place. But have they made gossip a bit too easy to spread? This USA TODAY article explores the growing issue of office gossip and just how easy it is to spread with the click of a mouse. A recent study conducted by Steelcase, a provider of office furniture and equipment, found that about two-thirds of employees say their co-workers gossip about company news. About 10 percent of that chatter is communicated via e-mail or instant messaging. "Office gossip has always been dangerous, but now with technology, it's also instantaneous … Once you hit send, you're done," said Jon Bender, a managing partner at executive search firm PrincetonOne. Office gossip has the potential to bring about lawsuits, drain productivity and even damage careers.

So what should you do about it? Some companies are choosing to initiate rules about gossiping and are posting them in their company handbooks. Or, you can choose to look at gossip as a tool for management--a way to keep up with office morale and find out ahead of time about any possible turnovers. The managing editor at Yahoo! HotJobs, Tom Musbach, also points out that gossip can help build camaraderie in your workplace. "Everyone wants to feel they're in the loop," Musbach said.--Kristin Edelhauser

If your business involves selling packaged foods, this is one trend you won't want to miss out on. It's called "nutrition profiling" and, according to this Washington Post article, it's basically a quick guide to food shopping, meaning nutrition labels that provide the information consumers need to make healthy decisions about products. This week, the Food and Drug Administration is in hearings regarding the best way to help consumers evaluate nutritional information quickly and effectively. Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said better labeling could make a substantial difference for consumes. "Simple front-label icons could be a real breakthrough in reaching people who are less motivated than a heart disease victim or diabetic to study the several dozen numbers on a nutrition label," he said.

Some major food companies, like Kraft and PepsiCo, are already establishing their own systems for rating food. But the problem is consistency. So far, there isn't one standardized system of nutrition labels. That's why experts are calling for a universal system that will erase the confusion and guessing that goes along with reading labels.--Kristin Edelhauser

Yesterday, we told you about the proliferation of social networking sites aimed at boomers. Articles like that one from The International Herald Tribune make it seem that boomers have stolen the spotlight from Gen X and Yers. But as Advertising Age points out, there's at least one product out to grab the attention strictly of Gen X: the Honda Accord. The maker of the sedan, American Honda Motor Co., and its agency believe there's an untapped opportunity to link the Accord with this generation of thirty and fortysomethings. David Burne, strategic planning director for Honda's agency, RPA, said Gen Xers see cars such as the Accord as a sign they're on the path to success.

For an interesting chart comparing Generation X, Y and boomers, check out the rest of this Advertising Age article.--Kristin Edelhauser