OFFICE workers devote more than three hours each week to gossip and banter, according to a new suvery.
And the chatter is setting the economy back £43 billion a year.
But the More Than Business survey states that gossip is essential for staff morale, social affairs and ideas generation, and is actually good for business.
Its key findings are:
- 59 per cent think what they learn from their peers and team-mates is more insightful than conferences or courses.
- 84 per cent of the UK population socialise with workmates
- More than half of office workers turn to colleagues to help resolve personal problems.
- Almost one in five have benefited from colleagues' support in getting through life-changing events such as divorce and bereavement.
- 61 per cent of workers claim they would miss office banter if they were to set up on their own.
The full article contains 149 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
