Supportive colleagues increase life expectancy

Supportive colleagues could become an integral part of workplace health and wellbeing packages after researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that employees who had good relationships with co-workers were more likely to live longer.

Although some employees may moan about their boss, the study showed that having a supportive supervisor had no impact on mortality. However, good relationships with colleagues did have an impact, and was most pronounced in employees between the ages of 38 and 43.

One of the simplest ways in which workers can help maintain the health and wellbeing of fellow colleagues is by making regular cups of tea, which is not only full of antioxidants but also well-known for lifting the mood and boosting morale when in-trays are at landslide levels.

Research conducted by office supplies firm Viking suggested that doing the ‘tea round’ at work not only made employees popular with colleagues, it also increases their chances of promotion.

Out of the 1,600 workers polled, 41% thought they made their fair share of hot beverages but more than half were put off because their colleagues were too fussy.

Sophie Christopher, spokesperson at Viking said: “Asking ‘how do you like it’ has never been more complicated because office workers are increasingly likely to specify their choice of tea and preferred infusion time or specify the precise amount of milk needed to create their perfect cuppa.

“Viking’s research has found there is a direct correlation between making lots of hot drinks for colleagues and getting promoted at work. It is mainly because being prepared to make the tea or coffee demonstrates qualities, such as attentiveness, humility and pro-activity which many employers welcome.”

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