These are the things South Africans hate the most about work
A new poll of 12,000 office workers nationwide has revealed the things we like and loathe the most in our places of work.
According to Inspiration Office, an Africa-wide office space and furniture consultancy, the social aspect of work tops list of likes, while loud colleagues top list of annoyances.
Richard Andrews, MD of Inspiration Office, said: “We asked people what was the most important thing for them in the workplace and 95% said access to good tea and coffee.
“This topped the list ahead of security (91%) and a healthy environment (87%) of what South African see as most important in the workplace.”
Rounding out the most important things was natural light (85%), greenery (71%), canteens (65%) and comfortable chairs (52%).
Office likes
- Access to good tea and coffee – 95%
- Security – 91%
- A healthy environment – 87%
- Natural light – 85%
- Greenery – 71%
- Canteens – 65%
- Comfortable chairs – 52%
Read: 30 things that make South Africans angry
The poll also quizzed people on their biggest annoyances at the workplace.
Top of the list was loud colleagues, followed by colleagues who “smelled up the place” by eating lunch at the desk.
Third was ‘unbearable bosses’.
“People talking loudly on the phone, endlessly talking to colleagues and making a general ruckus (88%) topped the list of the biggest peeve.
“This was followed closely by people who eat lunch at their desks thereby smelling up the workspace (76%),” Andrews said.
He added that bad bosses (66%) was in third place particularly those that were hyper-critical and micro managers. Lack of privacy also featured with just over 50% citing that as an office downside.
Other strong office dislikes were dreary office spaces, long meetings, dress codes and working hours.
Office peeves
- Loud colleagues – 88%
- Colleagues who “smelled up the place’ – 76%
- Unbearable bosses – 66%
- Lack of privacy – 50%
- Dreary office spaces
- Long meetings
- Dress codes
- Working hours
When asked about the best things about the workplace, the social aspect of meeting new people and becoming friends with certain colleagues was the best thing about the workplaces according to 80% of respondents.
Also favourable was the ‘learning and personal development’ that the workplaces offered (61%).
Filling out the remaining office positives was ‘stimulation’, ‘sense of worth’ and ‘contribution to society.’
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