The question would be answered were this explanation clear. "were we", "were this" introduces the conditional. . A if B A were we B A were they B We would go out were work be closed for the day. We would go out should work be closed for the day. I'd be happier if it were Saturday. = I'd be happier were it Saturday.

This is a case of subjunctive word order. Generally, subjunctive uses" that/if" to express hypothetical situations. However, in the case that you describe without "that/if", the verb would come first. It is largely interchangeable, although the order is dependent on the words used. Here are two examples from your sentence that are acceptable in American English: "fearing the reaction of my co-workers if we were to be observed leaving work together." "fearing the reaction of my co-workers were we to be observed leaving work together."