To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, a large percentage of the UK’s workforce are starting 2022 working remotely – in fact in Wales, it’s now illegal to work from an office if you can work from home, with workers even facing fines (although no fines have yet been issued).

However, while working from home is a dream for many, a report on remote working carried out by Deloitte discovered that 45% of office workers miss the social interaction being in the office provides – but what is it they miss?

Missing interaction with colleagues?

Cartridge Save decided to investigate, conducting a survey that questioned 1000 UK office workers aged over 18 on their office habits and then investigated the data further according to age, closest city and gender.

The survey questioned workers on their office habits on matters such as where they like to catch up with their colleagues once back at the office, the types of favours they ask their coworkers, the numbers of office workers who print personal documents using the office printers and if office workers know the difference between ink and toner.

A catch-up with colleagues?

Interaction with colleagues is something high on the list of things they miss – whether it’s a catch up while waiting for the kettle to boil or a quick chat at your desk.

Cartridge Save’s survey revealed the top area office workers enjoy having a catch up with their colleagues is at their desk (50%).

This is followed by their co-workers’ desk (29%), in the kitchen (29%), in the canteen (19%), at the printer or scanner (12%) and finally at the water cooler (8%).

What types of favours do workers ask of their colleagues at work?

People at work will often work collaboratively, but will also do favours for each other.

Cartridge Save investigated the types of favours that office workers ask of their colleagues and they found that the top favours were asking for a cup of tea or coffee (25%), printing something off for them (19%), waiting for them to take a lunch break (18%), helping them with their printer settings (16%) and finally asking for a lift home (11%).

They also found that the youngest age group, 18 to 24 year olds, were most likely to be asked by their colleague to make them a cup of tea or coffee (38%).

In Cardiff you’re most likely to be asked to make a cup of tea or coffee for your colleague (52%), whereas in Aberystwyth, you are most likely to be asked by a coworker to print something off! (50%).

However, it’s notable that Cartridge Save’s survey found that a whopping 77% of workers admit to printing personal documents using office printers – 17% admitted they do it often while only 16% said they never use the office printer for personal use.

Of course, some workers are really happy to have the flexibility to work from home, but the new hybrid working, with more flexibility may the best way to offer the best of both worlds.  To read the full findings, visit: https://www.cartridgesave.co.uk/news/office-habits/