Research of 2,000 UK office workers reveals the everyday habits damaging workplace morale this summer
- 72% of UK office workers believe workplace etiquette has deteriorated over the past three years
- 61% say poor office habits reduce their motivation at work, while 44% say they affect how professional they perceive colleagues to be
- Loud Teams calls, microwaving fish and office temperature wars top the list of the biggest summer workplace ‘icks’
- Nearly half (46%) say simple politeness has a bigger impact on morale than free snacks or workplace perks
The biggest threat to workplace morale this summer might not be looming deadlines or overflowing inboxes, it could be the colleague taking a Teams call on speaker.
New research from UK based online printer instantprint has found that everyday office habits are becoming one of the biggest sources of workplace frustration, with almost three quarters (72%) of UK office workers saying office etiquette has deteriorated over the past three years.
Surveying 2,000 employees, the study suggests rising temperatures and changing workplace routines are making seemingly minor behaviours feel far harder to ignore, with repeated annoyances having a growing impact on motivation, relationships and overall office culture.
Noise proved to be the biggest trigger, with 58% of respondents naming loud phone or video calls in open-plan offices as their number one frustration. Messy communal spaces followed closely behind, while the annual battle over air conditioning versus open windows once again featured among the nation’s biggest workplace grievances.
The research also found Britain’s summer office ‘icks’ are evolving with workplace culture itself. Alongside classic complaints such as microwaving fish and leaving dirty mugs behind, employees highlighted a new wave of frustrations, from colleagues playing TikTok videos without headphones to booking meeting rooms purely for the air conditioning and abandoning half-finished iced coffees around the office.
The findings reflect how online culture is increasingly influencing life at work, with younger employees using phrases such as “aura points” and “main character energy” to describe inconsiderate office behaviour.
While most of these habits seem harmless in isolation, the cumulative effect is significant. More than six in ten (61%) workers said poor office etiquette directly affects their motivation, while 44% admitted it changes how professional they perceive their colleagues to be.
Despite this, the research found improving workplace culture may not require expensive perks or large-scale wellbeing initiatives. Instead, employees said the biggest difference comes from simple everyday behaviours, with respecting noise levels, keeping shared spaces tidy and communicating considerately ranking among the habits that have the greatest positive impact on morale.
Further information can be found here, and assets can be downloaded here.
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