Workers 'value office friendship more than pay'

Getting on with work colleagues and developing a career is more important than pay, according to new research.

A poll of more than 1,500 managers in nine countries, including Ireland and the UK, showed that pay came fourth in a list of motivating factors.

Good relationships with colleagues came first, followed by career development and the type of work being done.

Recruitment firm OfficeTeam said its report showed that workers thrived on friendships rather than salary.

Around 40% of UK employees questioned said good relationships at work were their main motivation.

But the findings also showed that social interaction was the biggest cause of distraction in the workplace.

Claire Howell, from OfficeTeam, said: “While having a good relationship with co-workers is essential to keep you motivated, workplace political struggles, pessimistic colleagues and other emotionally-draining situations should be avoided whenever possible.

“They are unnecessary setbacks that cause you to lose ground in your professional pursuits.”