Workers behaving badly: what are the worst sins committed in the office?

Red-faced workers share their most shameful moments in the office

UK workers are finding new ways to misbehave in the office, according to a survey released this week.

Online coffee retailer Novell Coffee questioned 10,000 people in offices across the UK, asking them to describe the biggest work sin they had committed.

Topping the list of shame, with 31 per cent of votes, was avoiding tea and coffee-making duties. Those based in London were more on the ball when it came to a tea round, with just 20 per cent avoiding the duty, whereas 39 per cent of North East workers admitted to not pulling their weight with the kettle duty.

A total of 27 per cent of respondents confessed to faking illness to get a day off, with almost half of 18 to 24 year-olds questioned admitting they have pulled a sickie.

A further 21 per cent confessed to 'inappropriate' internet browsing, and 19 per cent admitted to sleeping during meetings.

Ten per cent of respondents said they wrote passive-aggressive Post-it notes, and a shameful eight per cent admitted to eating a co-worker's lunch.

Phil White, managing director of Novell Coffee, said: "There are some surprising results in this survey - the most apparent thing being the different in office coffee when you compare the north and the south.

"In London, more and more companies are installing bean-to-cup machines in their offices and I think this is reflected in the results - with many more employees in areas like the North East avoiding their tea and coffee-making duties, where this job still generally revolves around a kettle."

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