Good News for Commuters: Traffic Congestion Might Be Getting Better

By Jen Hubley Luckwaldt, PayScale.com

For many of us, commuting to work means getting in our cars, pulling out of our driveways or parking spaces … and sitting in traffic for what feels like a billion straight hours.

That might be changing, according to the newest traffic congestion scorecard from Inrix, which shows a 30 percent drop across the United States.

Salary and Career News Round Up: Work Rules You Should Break, How Envy Destroys Career Advancement and Headphones and Productivity

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

Every Friday we round up the salary trends, career stories and job news that you may have missed during the past week.

Want to Be Rich? Move to One of These Three Upwardly Mobile States

By Jen Hubley Luckwaldt, PayScale.com

First and foremost, can we just say that frankly, we're just glad there are any upwardly mobile states? Looking at the jobs report for May might lead a reasonable person to believe otherwise.

However, there are still some places in the U.S. that are bastions for would-be one-percent-ers.

Study Links Suppressing Your Identity to Job Dissatisfaction and Turnover

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

A new study published in "Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology" indicates that suppressing your identity at work may lead to increased job dissatisfaction and turnover. Researchers at Rice University polled 211 employed adults on topics like perceived discrimination, identity, job satisfaction and their intention to leave their job. Why is self-expression so important?

What Music Should You Listen to At Work? [infographic]

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

More workers than ever are wearing headphones and ear buds to help them focus on work, and this Sonos infographic outlines the genres of music that are especially beneficial for employees in their various lines of work. Those who are athletes or coaches, for example, should listen to pump-up music like punk, rock and hip-hop, while construction workers should steer clear of ambient or classical music.

Tales of Glory from PayScale's Bikers

By Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com

"And so it ends... in a drizzle," began Captain Kaylyn's last-day email address to PayScale's 26 Bike to Work Month participants. Yes, it is a drizzly day here in Seattle, but many PayScalers rode in nonetheless. Rain is unlikely to stop us. In fact, when asked about their fondest memories after a month of biking to work, riding in the rain often topped the lists of PayScale's intrepid bike commuters.

Men vs. Women: Which Gender's Offices Harbor More Germs?

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

Earlier this week, I wrote about the dirtiest areas of the workplace, and a separate study by San Diego State University indicates that men's and women's offices differ in terms of the germs they harbor. Which gender has the messiest work areas?

How to Spot Overworked Employees [infographic]

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

Job-related stress and burnout can torpedo team productivity and engagement, so it's essential that managers know how to spot overworked employees. The top reason for employee dissatisfaction is work stress, according to Gallup research, and recognizing the warning signs of burnout or rust-out can spell the difference between retaining an employee's effectiveness or pushing him to his emotional brink.

How Does the Microsoft Technology Center Envision Workplaces of the Future?

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

Forbes contributor Mark Fidelman recently visited a Microsoft Technology Center and called the tech giant's vision of workplaces of the future "brilliant." What factors drive this glowing description?

Is Your Boss Killing You? [infographic]

By Marissa Brassfield, PayScale.com

We know the health dangers of stress at work, and this infographic explores the many ways in which your boss might be killing you slowly. Employees spend, on average, 13 hours each workweek and another 6.2 hours each weekend fretting over their boss. That stress manifests itself in a variety of ways, none of which are conducive to good health or productivity.