Warning to all workers: Office rage may cause an increase in annoying co-workers, resulting in loss of emotional control. How will you handle anger in the workplace?

Twenty-eight percent of respondents say they find three or more co-workers annoying on a daily basis, according to a poll by Yahoo! HotJobs. Twenty-three percent admit to experiencing two irritating co-workers a day, while only 13 percent say they find zero annoying employees per day.

When it comes to handling tempers, most workers can manage frustration. Thirty-eight percent of respondents say they rarely become angry and 27 percent say they never have a bad temper. Of those who do experience workplace rage, 25 percent admit to losing tempers once a week or more, while 10 percent say once a month.

Tom Musbach, managing editor for Yahoo! HotJobs, offers some guidance to cool office rage. When a co-worker becomes frustrated and angry, don't take it personally. The issue may not even involve you — the irritation could be from an event that occurred at home. Musbach suggests allowing the co-worker to vent without yelling back at them.

"Relieve tension by stepping away from the situation," says Musbach. "Go get a cup of coffee, run an errand or go for a walk around the block."

If the situation involving a temper is repetitive or severe, the employee should document the incidences. Once a worker is offended or uncomfortable approaching the angry co-worker, contact the boss or human resources; you might have to protect yourself from this event happening again.

When you feel ready to explode with anger, remove yourself from the situation. Musbach recommends talking to someone outside of the office in order to gain a clearer perspective. It may be beneficial to note any common patterns or causes that lead to your rage.

"If you feel rage regularly, it may be time to find another job," says Musbach. "You could be in the wrong situation."

Workplace irritation and frustration may be caused by the stress from the economy and increased workloads; these events can push an employee's buttons, according to Musbach. The key is communication, and workers tend to under-communicate in the office.

For more information, visit http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/.

CO-WORKERS COMPETE

Beware of rising competition among co-workers in the workplace. Forty-six percent of senior executives, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing service that questioned 150 executives, say that employees are currently more competitive with each other in comparison to 10 years ago.

Twenty-four percent of executives believe there is no change in employee rivalry, while 23 percent of respondents say the aggression among co-workers is somewhat less.

"In an uncertain economy, people grow more concerned about job security and proving their worth to employers," says Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "This pressure to perform may result in rivalries between employees."

OfficeTeam recognizes common workplace competitors, including solutions to keep the competition from going too far:

— The sprinter: This worker battles to finish projects, but occasionally misses the details. Congratulate the employee on his or her eagerness, but convince him or her to avoid cutting corners.

— The weightlifter: This employee sees accomplishments in terms of quantity; he or she may work on more projects than can be finished properly by deadline. Suggest giving other co-workers some of the workload.

— The gymnast: This worker points toward perfection and prefers finishing projects alone. You might need to encourage him or her to focus more on team goals.

— The pole-vaulter: This employee will take on the toughest assignments; no project is too high. Avoid allowing this worker to tackle every difficult task.

— The saboteur: This type of athlete is part of every sport; they are pulled out of games for bad sportsmanship. The ruthless worker hurts others to get ahead. Concentrate on encouraging the worker to focus on joining forces with co-workers.

"A bit of healthy competition among staff can increase motivation and productivity, but, just as in sports, the overall results of the team are what count. Too much intramural competition creates tension and stands in the way of collaboration, adds Willmer.

For more information, visit www.officeteam.com.

To find out more about Amy Winter and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.