Abstract: Users of network-based collaborative applications can be notified in real-time based on workflow changes or notifications. In one embodiment, a persistent icon can be displayed that is visible from different pages in the application. The persistent icon can be visible from any page in the application on an application toolbar. When a notification or workflow request is posted, the persistent icon can be dynamically updated in real time, and without the need for refreshing the currently displayed view. Additionally, notification and workflow requests can be sent to multiple users simultaneously. When a notification or request is received, a counter can be incremented indicating a number of unread notifications or requests.