OFFICE STAFF GET CLOSE TO VIOLENCE

More than half of office staff in the UK claim they have become so angry at work they have nearly punched a colleague, according to new research published today by leading independent recruitment agency Pertemps.

The nationwide survey found that 53 per cent of office staff had nearly resorted to violence at work, with loud-mouthed colleagues, who shouted across the office and talked over other people in meetings, being the main cause of anger for 64 per cent of respondents.

IT problems, such as malfunctioning computers, caused 53 per cent of respondents to lose their temper, followed by excessive work loads (51 per cent), and interruptions while on the phone (37 per cent).

The survey revealed that 60 per cent of respondents lost their temper regularly at work. Although men shouted more often than women (67 per cent compared to 46 per cent), women had the strongest desire to hit people who had upset them (51 per cent compared to 39 per cent).

Asked how they coped with anger, nearly a third of respondents (31 per cent) said they ignored the person responsible. Twenty per cent, the majority of whom were women, made a cup of tea, while 15 per cent cursed under their breath. Eight per cent admitted to hitting their malfunctioning computer.

Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of employees said they were less productive when in a bad mood and 15 per cent worked slower when their boss was angry for fear of making a mistake.

Eighty one per cent of workers believed that anger in the workplace had a detrimental effect on moral. Forty seven per cent felt that longer hours, more responsibility and tight deadlines had increased the number of office rage cases they had encountered over the last couple of years.

Tim Watts, chairman of Pertemps, said: "The latest annual British Crime Survey reveals 1.3 million incidents of violence at work, involving 604,000 workers. There are several pieces of legislation relating to violence in the workplace, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is important that employers are aware of their responsibilities in this area."

"Our research shows that common occurrences, such as broken computers and interruptions, can push people over the edge at work. Angry and violent behaviour can be dangerous, de-motivating and stressful for all concerned. We advise companies to consult regularly with staff, identify potential sources of conflict and try to diffuse it early."

Pertemps has the following tips for employers.

Identify problem areas

• Separate workers who are clashing
• Try to diffuse conflict early
• Ensure staff can speak openly with managers about problems
• Ensure office plans provide individuals with adequate space.
• Do not overcrowd
• Ensure workers have a manageable workload and try not to set unrealistic deadlines
• Ensure all technology works efficiently and have a trouble-shooter to fix problems
• Offer stress counselling
  

Employees:

• Do not disturb colleagues with excessive noise
• Avoid gossip – it can be hurtful and causes offence
• Control your own stress levels
• Remain calm in the face of provocation. Walk away, take a break and diffuse the situation
• Consult your manager to air any problem issues
• Plan your workload and highlight any foreseeable problems
• Never resort to violence