Revealed! Office habits that are driving workers crazy

Tempted to check your email or text while your colleagues give their morning spiel to the office? Well it might pay to wait.

According to a UK survey, checking messages during meetings it the worst office gaffe you could make, with half of those polled naming it as their biggest workplace irk.

The study, The New Rude, looked at business etiquette and found that modern communication techniques were stirring up office politics.

Over a fifth of respondents expressed the most frustration when colleagues sitting nearby emailed instead of talking to them face to face.

Customer communication consultancy Pitney Bowes, who carried out the survey, said it showed reliance on technology may be encouraging poor manners.

“It may seem obvious, but manners matter, and business etiquette plays a subtle yet important role in developing relationships,” said Hina Sharma, Head of Brand for Europe at Pitney Bowes.

"While technology has undoubtedly revolutionised the business world, it's important to use it appropriately and know when to switch it off.

"If you're meeting with a client, for example, your focus should be on them, not your phone."

But it’s not just relentlessly inspecting messages that gets under the skin, noisy conference calls also irritate co-workers, with 38% stating they were unimpressed with workmates who broadcast their work to the entire office.

Brits aren’t the only ones wound up by bad office etiquette – workers in the US, Germany and France shared similar gripes.

A lack of an email signature and not making eye contact when shaking hands is unpopular in France and Germany. The French and Germans also disliked colleagues leaving their ring tone on, while the Americans were riled up the unnecessary use of capitals in an email and texting while walking in a public place.

Here are the top 10 office irritations for UK workers

• Checking emails in meetings (49%)

• Not looking somebody in the eye while shaking hands (46%)

• Checking messages during a business lunch (45%)

• Not putting your cell phone on silent during a conference call (38%)

• LinkedIn invites from someone unknown (24%)

• Emailing a colleague at the next desk (22%)

• Using text-speak in emails (22%)

• Use of capitals in text/emails (18%)

• Emailing invites to meetings without listing the purpose (14%)

• Talking on the phone in public areas (13%)

Do you agree with the results? What are some office habits that drive you up the wall? Let us know in the comments below.