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