From passive aggressive emails to people who never clean the kitchen, everyday office habits are quietly damaging productivity, focus and team harmony.

•  72% of UK workers say office etiquette has declined in the last three years
• 61% say bad office habits directly reduce their motivation at work
• Loud phone and video calls are the UK’s most hated workplace behaviour
• Small habits like tidying shared spaces rank higher than perks when it comes to morale

A new study of 2,000 UK office workers has revealed the everyday behaviours that irritate colleagues the most, and the small habits that make a surprisingly big difference to workplace happiness.

The research, carried out by online UK based printer instantprint, found that while businesses often focus on pay, benefits and big culture initiatives, it is the day-to-day behaviours of colleagues that are most likely to cause friction.

According to the findings, nearly three quarters of workers (72%) believe office etiquette has worsened in recent years, with hybrid working and open plan offices making noise, cleanliness and communication bigger flashpoints than ever before.

And it is not just mildly annoying. 61% of employees say repeated exposure to bad office habits makes them feel less motivated, while 44% say it negatively impacts how professional they perceive their colleagues to be.

So what exactly is winding people up?

The top five worst office habits, according to UK workers, are:

• Taking loud phone or video calls at desks – cited by 58%
• Leaving shared spaces messy, including kitchens and meeting rooms – flagged by 52%
• Passive aggressive emails and messages – frustrating 47%
• Turning up late to meetings – reported by 41%
• Ignoring shared office rules, such as quiet zones or desk booking systems – named by 38%

While none of these behaviours are catastrophic on their own, together they create a working environment that makes it harder to concentrate, collaborate and stay engaged.

But it is not all bad news. The research also highlights that positive office habits are both simple and widely appreciated.

The five best office habits, as voted by UK workers, are:

• Respecting noise levels and using headphones – valued by 64%
• Keeping shared spaces clean and organised – appreciated by 59%
• Clear and polite communication – ranked by 55%
• Being punctual and prepared for meetings – noted by 49%
• Showing basic courtesy, such as saying thank you or acknowledging messages – highlighted by 46%

Jon Constatine-Smith, Head of instantprint, said:

“Office tension rarely comes from one big blow up. It is usually driven by small behaviours that happen day after day and slowly chip away at morale. What this research shows is that being mindful of how you work around others, whether that is noise, cleanliness or communication, can make a noticeable difference to how connected and productive teams feel.”

The findings reflect wider workplace trends, with studies showing that unresolved low level conflict can increase stress, reduce engagement and negatively impact performance over time.

instantprint’s data suggests that businesses who address everyday etiquette openly stand to gain. Over half of workers (53%) said they would feel more engaged if office behaviour was discussed more clearly, while 48% believe it would improve team relationships.