Co-workers are people who share a workplace with each other. The study of co-worker dynamics has absorbed many psychologists, since relationships between co-workers can get quite interesting and very complex. Many people deal with co-workers on a daily basis, because they work for companies with multiple employees.

Many people like to distinguish between a co-worker and a subordinate or supervisor, considering a co-worker a colleague of the same status, rather than someone higher or lower on the company food chain. Co-workers may hold similar or comparable positions, and they often have similar levels of power and authority in an organization. This sets them apart from supervisors, who can issue directives, and subordinates, who take orders. Many people hope that their equal standing with their co-workers ensures equal treatment and a good working relationship.

Because co-workers often work together in enclosed spaces for long hours, they may establish friendships which can be carried on outside the workplace. Other people may prefer to remain more aloof, focusing on being polite but not necessarily friendly with a co-worker to clearly differentiate between work and personal life. These enclosed spaces can also skew the relationship in the opposite direction; some people have extremely adversarial relationships with their co-workers.

Many people are familiar with the concept of the annoying or obnoxious co-worker, as a casual glance at the employment and careers section of a bookstore indicates. Especially in a small office, it can be challenging to work with difficult personalities, leading some people to seek professional advice on handling their colleagues and office disputes. Many authorities recommend clear, open communication between people who share a workplace, to ensure that small problems are quickly resolved before they can turn into major issues. It's also a good idea to scope a workplace when you apply, to test the co-worker dynamics and to see how you might fit in.

When interacting with co-workers, try to remember that the work environment is a unique place, and that some people may feel uncomfortable with excessive friendliness, politics, or the sharing of personal information. A co-worker can also turn on you, especially when competition for a promotion gets fierce, and it is a good idea to refrain from gossiping about other people in your workplace with co-workers, no matter how tempting it may be. By keeping your relationship professional and neutral, you can also prevent potential accusations of harassment or inappropriate behavior.