Cunning ploys we use to avoid work - when we're in the office

British workers are world-beaters in the office. Apparently we are among the world's finest when it comes to avoiding work - and the average person manages to dodge actually achieving anything for an incredible three hours a day. A new study has revealed how.

The research, for Rescue Plus Effervescent, found that the top technique is chatting with friends. In order to get away with this, it's best not to sit around a desk laughing and having fun. It might be wiser to hold a meeting in a meeting room - on the thin pretext that you're actually chatting about work.
Alternatively, the part of the office where you make tea is a handy spot, as you can always pass it off as an elaborate tea-making ritual.

General life admin is also a useful way to pass the time without having to face work. There's always a holiday to book, insurance to buy, or a key item to track down for your home. Just make sure you also have a very dull looking spreadsheet open in your tabs, and a carefully angled mirror, so you can see anyone approaching and look like you're being efficient.

Social media is unsurprisingly something that eats your time at work. There's always a new viral video to check out, or views to share about the latest development in a celebrity's life - all of which is infinitely more exciting than work. There are a couple of things to beware of though. Your employer is often free to check your social media history on your work computer, so it may be worth using your phone. Also make sure that what you are posting is only shared with a very select group - which doesn't include colleagues or your boss - or it will be pretty obvious that you've not done a stroke of work all day.

Why?

If you can get away with putting off work, and your boss is happy with your productivity, then there's an argument that you're not harming anyone with your cunning work-avoidance techniques.

However, it's worth thinking about why you don't want to work. Some 87% of workers admit that they struggle with concentration at work. In some cases this is because people are in the wrong job. Some 37% of people say they are bored by their job, and 9% say they can't stand it. It may be more effective, therefore, to spend your spare time considering whether there's a job where you'd be happier.

Sometimes your colleagues are to blame. Some 15% of people said their line manager offers no direction at work, so they are cut adrift. If this is the case, perhaps it's time to have a chat with your line manager, or a shift to another team or organisation where you'll be working for someone a bit more effective.

In other cases, our home life is distracting us. Some 18% of people are preoccupied with family commitments, while 58% are too tired to work. This is harder to solve, because it comes down to discovering the root of the problem. Are you worrying about money? Are you not getting along with your other half? Is work keeping you up at night? Is your social life just too busy?

Once you have identified the issue, you can talk to those who may be able to help, whether that's your partner, a debt councillor, or your GP.

Because while people are clearly showing a great deal of creativity and nerve in avoiding work for a total of 84 days a year, there's a chance they'd be happier using their time more effectively.