Client Releases
OFFICE WORKERS IN ABERDEEN ARE HAPPIEST IN THE UK
People who work in Aberdeen are happier than any other city in the UK, according to a study into the daily life of office workers.
Bosses in the city will be pleased to hear that nearly three-quarters (72%) of employees said they were ‘happy’ in their job – a staggering 18% higher than the national average of 54%.
This finding was as a result of an unofficial ‘office census’, which created a detailed breakdown of a day in the working life of British workers, right down to the number of emails they send and receive, how often they disagree with colleagues and how much they spend on their daily commute.
Researchers for Mars Drinks UK quizzed male and female office workers from Aberdeen as part of the detailed study. Not only did they find that Aberdonians are the ‘happiest’ workers, but also that on average they arrive at their desk at 7.52am, spend £3.02 on lunch and drink three cups of tea or coffee throughout the day.
In Aberdeen, the daily commute begins at 7.25am and lasts on average for 27 minutes and 20 seconds. The majority (53.1%) drive to work but a quarter enjoy walking or cycling to the office. The first conversation with a colleague happens at 8.22am, 30 minutes after arriving at work, and the first cup of tea or coffee is consumed some 20 minutes later at 8.52am.
Lunch begins at 12.22pm and the average worker in Aberdeen takes a break of 32 minutes and 52 seconds, but half (50%) eat lunch at their desk, with just 3% ever venturing outside to get some fresh air while they digest. Almost half (43.8%) bring in a packed lunch, while those who don’t, fork out on average £3.02 for a sandwich from their local supermarket or a hot dish from a café or takeaway.
Jenni Morgan, Trade Marketing Manager for Mars Drinks UK, which commissioned the study, said: “Our office census provides a fascinating detailed insight into the working day of people in Aberdeen, and it’s great to hear that they are the happiest employees in the UK.
“Our results show that even though we are working longer hours than ever before, this has not dented our enjoyment of the job. It is also very interesting to learn that we are on the whole a very agreeable lot who prefer to get along with colleagues and bosses, rather than spend the day arguing and moaning.”
Throughout the day, employees in Aberdeen receive 37 emails and send 26, make 14 phone calls and answer 14 phone calls, and drink an average of three cups of tea or coffee.
Workers fall out with colleagues an average of 0.7 times a day, and bosses make staff feel angry once in a typical working day. IT issues are the biggest office irritant, including computers and printers inexplicably crashing, followed by people who talk too loudly on the phone.
And according to the new research, which was commissioned by Mars Drinks UK, one quarter of workers get most annoyed when their pens go missing, while one in 10 see red when the office coffee machine is on the blink or when colleagues refuse to take their turn making hot drinks.
Office workers in Aberdeen leave for home at 5.08pm, which means they are in the office for an average of nine hours and 16 minutes every day. The commute home takes 29 minutes and 13 seconds and the average daily cost of getting to and from work is £3.05.
The Average Working Day
• Commute to office – 27 minutes and 20 seconds
• Arrive at office – 7.52am
• First chat with colleague – 8.22am
• First coffee/tea of the day – 8.52am
• Lunch – 12.22pm
• Lunch break lasts – 32 minutes 52 seconds
• Average cost of lunch – £3.02
• Number of emails received – 37
• Number of emails sent – 26
• Number of phone calls made – 14
• Number of phone calls received – 14
• Biggest office bugbear – computers and printers crashing
• Leave the office – 5.08pm
• Commute home – 29 minutes 13 seconds
• Cost of daily commute – £3.05
More information on Mars Drinks can be found at www.myflavia.co.uk/hot-drinks
