More than 2 in 5 office employees have admitted they don’t always feel comfortable telling the truth to colleagues while at work, according to a new survey.

The study carried out by office stationary suppliers Viking revealed the figure, and a further 63% of employees admitted to lying at least once a day.Of the two genders, men were more likely to lie to their colleagues in almost all situations. Interestingly, 52% of women were uncomfortable expressing their true feelings at work, compared to only 35% of men, suggesting women may be more likely to deflect a colleague’s questions rather than lie to them.

Another revelation was that those higher up the career ladder are more likely to lie. Of the participants surveyed, those earning over £40,000 were 13% more likely to lie than their colleagues earning between £10,000 and £19,999.

The study also found:

  • Residents of the North West and Wales are the most likely to mask the truth, with 69% admitting to lying at work at least once a day.
  • 41% of women lie to get out of awkward social situations at work, compared to only 31% of men.
  • West Midlanders are the most honest workers in the country with over half (53%) assuring they always tell the truth at work.

After uncovering these results, Viking asked their staff what the most annoying phrases are that people use in the office. Their employees agreed that some expressions are immediately recognisable as white lies or jargon, such as being a “team player” and “big picture ideas”.