Cake doesn’t cut it in UK workplace

Nearly 40% of British workers say reliability is the ultimate quality in a co-worker, according to research released today by Manpower, the UK’s leading recruitment company.

As part of Manpower’s search for Britain’s most valued employee in the workplace, the company has conducted research to find out what type of colleague people most want to work with.

It seems us Brits will not tolerate being let down by office slackers: 39% of the 1,187 people surveyed said their ideal colleague would be a Reliable Richard - that dependable colleague who’s always on time and never misses a deadline. Conversely, Suck-up Sarah’s need to rethink their position in the office popularity stakes: despite being regular providers of teas, coffees, cakes and treats, these eager to please colleagues would only be chosen by 1% as the ideal co-worker.

Straight talking, honest colleagues came second in the poll, receiving one fifth of the votes, closely followed with 18% of the votes, by colleagues who are willing to put in extra effort to help out, for example by working through a lunch hour or staying after 5pm.

And there’s bad news for David Brent wannabes (of BBC’s The Office) - the office clown was the ideal colleague of only 12% of voters. The survey also shows that just one in ten workers rate the agony aunt who provides the shoulder to cry on as the ideal colleague.

Comments, Charles Ashworth, director at Manpower UK: Good co-workers are fundamental to our happiness in our jobs. A colleague who injects laughter into the workplace is always a ’nice to have’ but being able to rely on a colleague to deliver on promises and not slack off is clearly far more important. We depend on our colleagues to fulfil their work commitments so that we in turn can fulfil our own.

Manpower has launched its Unsung Hero competition to help recognise the added value a great employee gives to the workplace, and to give that employee the recognition he or she deserves.

The competition ’Unsung Heroes - the search for Britain’s most valued employee’ is open to all companies and organisations whatever the size, and for all employees, both full time or part time, permanent or temporary. To enter, a line manager or employer must nominate their chosen employee(s) and provide examples of how each individual employee has made a difference to the business. The winner will win a fabulous all-inclusive seven-night holiday for two to Mexico, where they will get the once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with dolphins.

Entry forms are available from your local Manpower office, or can be accessed online at www.manpower.co.uk/unsungheroes

Entries must be submitted by 29th October 2004.