Q. You have noticed several of your colleagues playing online games at work. Does this mean they are slacking off?

A. Not necessarily. Kathleen Hall, chief executive of the Stress Institute, a research organization in Atlanta, said that just as some employees might gather at the water cooler for periodic breaks, other employees may engage in brief online game sessions as a way to recharge.

“We all love rewards,” Ms. Hall said. “Knowing you can play a game for 10 minutes if you accomplish certain tasks is a great way to motivate and get things done.”

Q. How many people are playing online games at work?

A. A 2006 study by Forrester Research estimated that 4 of every 10 adults in North America played online games. This summer, a survey of more than 7,000 randomly selected people by PopCap Games, a game developer in Seattle, indicated that 24 percent of respondents said they played such games at work.