Office tea makers gain an extra eight days of holiday a year by skiving off, a study found.
They racked up the ‘unofficial’ time off each year by spending parts of their day brewing cuppas. The shocking statistic emerged in analysis of the biggest time wasters in the workplace, revealing which culprits gain the most unauthorised time off.
TikTok users are the biggest culprits, as they tot up more than three weeks of additional ‘holiday’ by scrolling online for 33 minutes a day.
READ MORE: Police hunt for family of murdered homeless man found hiding in bin shed
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
Smokers gain six days while habitual latecomers, who are five minutes late each day, get three. And employees get an additional five days off by talking about the weather, according to vape retailer Haypp. Spokesman Markus Lindblad said: “It’s been shocking to see how much additional holiday time some people get.
“It’s also been interesting to see that a large proportion of UK smokers are still gaining some extra time away from work to enjoy a cigarette.”
But tea lovers last night defended having a brew at work, insisting it makes employees more productive and raises “morale”. Dr Tim Bond, of the Tea Advisory Panel, said: “Drinking tea is not lost work time as the time allows for reflection, thinking about projects and talking about work. Tea is also a form of social cohesion.
“Tea has clear benefits for health, particularly heart health, and it can increase mental focus in the workplace and potentially decrease time off due to health issues . So, pop the kettle on and enjoy all the health and wellness benefits of a cuppa to benefit rather than distract from working in the office and at home.”
Donatella Panayoitou, founder of the Foreign Flowers Tea Company, said: “It’s not about wasting time – it’s about giving people a moment to step back, relax and recharge. Taking those few minutes to brew a cup of tea helps reduce stress and can really boost overall wellbeing. Those little tea moments can make a big difference in productivity and morale.”
Food industry expert Jane Milton said making tea is a “ritual” and can “bring teams closer”. She added: “It makes you pause and take a few minutes breath while you wait for your drink to brew.”
Despite the skiving findings, two-thirds of Brits consider access to tea during their working day as crucial for their wellbeing, according to a separate study.More than half insist that having a break for a quick cuppa and biscuit actually makes them more productive and focused, workplace provider Clockwise found.
Chief operating officer Alexandra Livesey said: “Taking short tea breaks can lead to significant benefits. Rather than a time drain, tea breaks create moments of refreshment that leave employees more energised, focused, and engaged – ultimately benefiting both individuals and the wider workplace.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
