Their findings revealed that today's average office worker not only deals with an increased workload, but also with overly talkative co-workers, tiresome catchphrases and shared office refrigerators that, if reported, could generate OSHA fines.

As one who recently lost her office refrigerator privileges (our mini fridge lost power over a holiday weekend, enabling my ancient inedible to make its presence known throughout a good part of our floor), I was intrigued.

According to the study, "More than half of Americans (51 percent) say the biggest source of stress at work is not the job itself, but their co-workers."

The study made gentle reference to a few types of office worker, such as the Gossip, the Tattler and the Flatterer. (Better known in the real world as Busybody, Rat and Brown-Noser.)

Those classifications reminded me about a recent conversation I had with a friend who was complaining about a "wannabe detective" in her office. He frequently appears at her desk, not so discreetly looking at what's on her computer screen and randomly picking at papers or objects that attract his attention.

"I think there's one of those in every office," I said, recalling a former co-worker who was bold enough to stand behind me and attempt to read over my shoulder.

I suspect there are certain types that most every office likely has.

There's the Skunk: someone who either has an aversion to deodorant or a propensity to abuse cologne. I've experienced scents so strong they made my eyes burn.

There's the Lifer, generally a member of management who lives and breathes for the company, and expects the same of his staff. Can be seen walking the halls, regardless of the hour. Arrives early even when there's waist-deep snow. Seldom takes vacation. Never takes a sick day. Inspired the saying "I don't suffer from stress; I'm a carrier."

There's the Poor-Me Competitor, who makes every situation into a contest. They're the sickest, the most tired, most abused.

And the Kodak Representative, generally a proud parent or grandparent who traps co-workers on a regular basis, forcing them to look through stacks of nearly identical photos.

The Enthusiast can be hard to tolerate, especially on Mondays. Some of us just don't do perky. It makes us sarcastic.

Occasionally, an Enthusiast will also be an Inappropriate Dresser, apparently to show off the fact that perkiness isn't only a personality trait.

The Cynic is the staff member who takes pleasure in wryly reminding the Inappropriate Dresser that time and gravity aren't going to be kind. Some offices have an abundance of Cynics. I suspect there's a requirement that one be present at every meeting to shoot down ideas.

Finger-Pointers can be hard to take, too. They tend to start every sentence with the same word. For example, "Someone didn't start a new pot of coffee" or "Someone left the copier jammed."

Or "Someone forgot their food in the refrigerator and now it's stinking up the third floor."

Karin Fuller can be reached via e-mail at karinful...@cnpapers.com. Her columns can be easily accessed online through her blog at thegazz.com.