This is an old question, but I have not found an answer before. My Office toolbar, though set with the "Always on top" selection under customize does stay on top for a while, then some application (usually Outlook, but not always) comes along and covers it up. When you clear away the obstruction, right click on the toolbar, you see that the "Always on top" box is still checked. Just click on "Apply" and it's on top -- but just for a little while. I am running Windows 95.