Working from home… doncha just love it (part two)? Well, despite the nation’s best efforts to stay in its PJs for at least a few more months, it seems the call for a mass return to full-time office work is gathering pace.
And, as if by magic, here come the results of a new poll of workers by BizSpace who, yep, you guessed it, just so happen to be “a leading flexible workspace provider, committed to creating spaces that support productivity and respect between colleagues”.
Anyway, they have helpfully asked the question: what’s the one office habit that gets on your wick in 2024?
Apparently, with more people back in shared spaces, the little things that used to be ignored are now centre of the conversation. From vaping indoors to loud phone calls, the survey reveals the seven deadly sins of office work that really get everyone’s goat.
1) Leaving the Kitchen Dirty: 25% of respondents said dirty communal kitchens are the biggest annoyance. Colleagues leaving crumbs, spills and dirty dishes behind have turned this shared space into a hotbed of annoyance. (They’re lucky to have a kitchen, we say.)
2) Swearing in the Office: 22% of workers said excessive swearing in the office is their biggest bugbear. Many said they feel uncomfortable and want a more professional tone in the workplace. (They want to try working here, especially when I have to write up this nonsense.)
3 Vaping in the Office: 20% of respondents were annoyed by indoor vaping, who said they hate the lingering vapour clouds and smells that disrupt the workspace. (Bah, they want to try sitting next to 30-a-day-Marlboro-Red-Roxy.)
4) Health Buffs: 18% of respondents said that health-obsessed workers who constantly bang on about their breathwork routines and other wellness habits are their top office ick. (Now that is one thing we certainly don’t get here.)
5) Personal Calls on Speaker: 15% said taking personal calls on speaker is the most annoying habit, turning the office into an unwanted auditorium for private conversations. (Chance and time would be a fine thing.)
6) Desk Lunches with Stinky Food: 12% of workers listed strong food smells as their top office ick, who can’t concentrate when pungent lunches are eaten at nearby desks. (Bloody snowflakes.)
7) Chewing Gum Under Desks: And, finally, 8% of respondents said finding chewing gum stuck under desks is their biggest annoyance, who find it unhygienic and disrespectful. (They’re lucky to have desk!)
The survey also found that while many office workers are reluctant to address these behaviours with their colleagues, rather typically the younger employees (aged 18 to 34 with no backbone) are more likely to report these irritations to management or HR than their older counterparts.
In response to the survey, BizSpace is urging businesses to consider introducing etiquette workshops or “office norms” guidelines to improve the work experience.
Whatever next? A ban on getting hammered down the pub at lunchtime and then coming back to work spoiling for a fight?
You people. This country…
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