Reliability is the most valued quality according to the latest research by employment agency Manpower. The company polled 1,187 people to discover what type of colleague people most want to work with.



The UK workforce will tolerate much, but their patience is pushed beyond the limit by workshy workmates. Consequently, ‘Reliable Richards’ come out on top in the poll with 39 per cent of the vote. It seems dependability, punctuality and consistently hitting deadline targets is the way to become the office golden boy / girl.



Not quite so popular was the ‘Suck up Sarah’, who received a paltry 1 per cent of the total vote. Despite being a regular provider of teas, coffees and treats for the team, her blatant toadying is more likely to get on colleagues’ wicks than endear her to them. The office clown didn’t fair too well either, clocking up just 12 per cent of the vote.



It seems Brits admire and appreciate honesty, as the straight talking colleague came second with 20 per cent of the vote. Those willing to ‘go the extra mile’ to help a colleague – whether that be working through lunch or staying late, were also popular, receiving 18 per cent. In a result meaning they will soon be requiring their own shoulder to cry on, the agony aunt type on got ten per cent.



Charles Ashworth, MD of Manpower, comments:



"Good co-workers are fundamental to our happiness in our jobs. A colleague who injects laughter into the workplace is always a ’nice to have’ but being able to rely on a colleague to deliver on promises and not slack off is clearly far more important. We depend on our colleagues to fulfil their work commitments so that we in turn can fulfil our own.”