CAKE DOESN'T CUT IT IN
UK WORKPLACE - RELIABILITY IS KEY FOR COLLEAGUES
Manpower reveals what makes an ideal colleague
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.¹
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.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
¹Manpower surveyed 1,187 people. The results of the survey
are as follows:
Good colleagues make our working lives that much easier.
What type of person is the ideal work colleague?
Someone who:
Is straight talking and honest
20%
Puts in extra effort to help out - eg willing to stay late
or work through a lunch hour
18%
Brings laughter to the workplace
12%
Regularly makes the tea and coffee or brings treats such
as cakes to the office
1%
Is reliable i.e. is on time, completes tasks to deadline
39%
I can go to for advice
10%
Unsung Heroes - The search for Britain’s most valued
employee
Manpower is the UK’s leading workforce management company,
specialising in permanent and temporary recruitment, HR services,
managed services, outsourcing and HR consultancy.
Manpower has been established in the UK since 1956 and today works
with organisations in both the public and private sector. Manpower’s
UK-wide network of 300 offices allows the company to meet the needs
of local and national customers. This includes numerous small and
medium sized enterprises, as well as larger organisations such as
BMW, BT, Heinz, Hertfordshire County Council, IBM, National Blood
Service, New Deal South Wales, Royal Mail and Xerox.
The focus of Manpower’s work is on raising productivity through
improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling customers
to concentrate on their core business.
Manpower has a highly skilled workforce of 100,000 temporary employees
who stay loyal to the company (and its customers) thanks to best
in class employment benefits. These include a contract of employment
and a free e-learning tool offering staff over 1,000 courses in
a diverse range of subjects, keeping Manpower’s workforce
up to date with today’s ever-changing working environment.
For further information, please contact the Manpower Press Office
on 020 8870 2214. Or you can e-mail us by selecting Press
Office from the Contact
Us page.
