Most people have heard of the popular NBC comedy series The Office, now in its fifth season, which depicts in cringe-worthy detail the ongoing power struggles of the staff of the Dunder Mifflin corporation.

But are the situations and characters depicted on the show just the product some TV writer’s warped imagination, or do employees really scrap over who gets to sit by the boss at meetings? Can grown adults at work really be that petty? The answer is, like it or not, yes.

Most office politics are utter nonsense," says Dan Pink, Millennial career guru and author of The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The last career guide you’ll ever need.

"But you can’t just avoid them. Anytime you have more than one person in an office, office politics will result."

Franke James, creator of the popular website officepolitics.com, agrees. Says James who, with a team of advisers, has been dishing out advice to the overwrought on her website for seven years now: "I figure office politics is about human relationships in the office and how you fit in and get ahead."

For young people entering the workforce, quickly developing an understanding of the relationships and procedures in their particular office environment can be crucial.

"I think a young person just finishing their studies should take a course in anthropology before they get their first job," says Pink.

Indeed, career experts agree anyone starting a new job should start by observing the rituals and processes of their new "tribe" to avoid major gaffes that could affect their future success.

Respect the rules

For example, in Johnny Bunko, the title character makes the mistake of going over his boss’s head to present a new idea to his company’s CEO. The result is disastrous. Not only does Johnny’s idea flop, he almost gets fired.

Company hierarchy is just one area where workplace newcomers tend to mess up.

"I remember we had a new employee who annoyed everyone by not respecting the way we did things, even though the way we do things is pretty casual," says Jennifer Kushell, CEO of YSN.com (Your success network) a resource network for young people just starting their careers.

"He was great but he would do things like walk into management offices all the time, at any time, without even making an appointment to speak to us. Other people in the office started to get annoyed, because he was ignoring a process that was already in place."

Indeed, taking the time to get the "lay of the land," before just charging in like a bull in a china shop at a new workplace is essential, says Elizabeth Freedman, author of Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the workplace without hanging yourself.

"Your first step in any workplace should be to zip your lip, listen and observe to see how work really gets done," says Freedman. "Resist the urge to say a lot. Ask yourself who makes the decisions. Check out the tone of emails. And take the time to find out who you can trust as an ally – a mentor who’s been around the block and can give you feedback on how things work and how your ideas and initiatives will be received."

Pitching ten new ideas at your first meeting is not necessarily a good idea, but getting yourself invited to as many meetings as possible is, says Freedman.

"Resist the impulse to do it all and say it all and make it all happen for your first three months on the job," she advises.

Where credit is due

Playing the game is about more than just not offending your higher ups, point out career experts. Getting along with your colleagues can be just as important to your future success. After all, who knows when they’ll have a direct impact on the outcome of your projects?

Young people who are new to the workforce can get particularly hung up about who gets credit for their work, says Freedman.

"Millennials can get really caught up in getting credit for what they do, but they should not be so concerned about this. Sure there are genuine situations where someone gets all the credit for the work you’ve done and nobody knows but you – but when I’ve interviewed employers they’ve generally known where the good ideas are coming from. You don’t need to be out there with a megaphone broadcasting to the world. What you have to think about is what your job is at the end of the day – is it about making you look good? Or is it about serving your company’s best interests?"

Of course, taking credit for your work isn’t the only thing colleagues can do to make your life miserable. Put downs, offensive comments and even offensive odors can challenge the diplomatic skills of even the best politicians.

Don’t make a fuss

For example, one recent writer to the officepolitics.com website expressed her frustration with a superior whose perfume made her day-to-day job a living hell.

"The writer was highly allergic to perfumes and she was really struggling with how to tell her manager," says James, who wrote back suggesting the woman get a note from her doctor advising her employer of her fragrance sensitivity.

"The important thing is to educate people about the problem in a way that doesn’t offend anyone," James adds. "It’s important to keep issues impersonal, on the level of the condition of the sufferer rather than the personal hygiene of the person they’re complaining about. Also get as much information as you can about what your rights are in the workplace. That way you don’t have to tell anyone that their odour offends you."

Pick your battles

But what about irritating or downright destructive behaviours at work? For example, the woman in IT whose male supervisor continually ridicules her in front of male co-workers and who is continually passed over for promotions despite her obvious competence?

There are at least two schools of thought on this, at least according to seemingly conflicting comments from advisers on James’ website: Quit if no one will listen or fight the good fight.

In his guest appearance as an adviser on the officepolitics.com website, Daniel Pink, posing as his career advice manga character Diana writes:

"Seems like you have two options. #1. You can file a lawsuit for sexual harassment — since your workplace might qualify as a "hostile environment." #2. Or you can get out.

Since I’m not a lawyer — and since you shouldn’t be taking legal advice from a manga character — think about that second option. What’s going on in your workplace is ridiculous, uncalled for, and demeaning. … [But talking to your boss alone] might not work. … Which means that ultimately, you’re better off working somewhere besides that locker room full of rodents…."

James, for her part, recommends that the woman fight the good fight instead, by building her profile in the IT community, blogging and bonding with other women in the field, donating time to online programming activities and submitting papers so that, no matter what, her power and vo