Blog

7 AUG 2023

Third Of UK Workers Suffer From FOOC: Fear Of Offending Colleagues

A new research study by Reed.co.uk, reveals that almost a third (32%) of British workers feel unable to be their authentic selves at work.

Notice: Undefined index: info in /home1/onlyfe/public_html/article.php on line 46

This phenomenon is referred to as FOOC (Fear of Offending Colleagues), which affects 27% of employees. Surprisingly, 37% of respondents said that they would enjoy their job more if they could express their true selves, and over a fifth (more than 20%) believed it would lead to increased productivity.

Despite the desire to be authentic, 19% of workers admitted to adopting a workplace persona, pretending to be someone else. This behavior is influenced by the fear of negative perceptions from colleagues (22%), especially prevalent among women (24%) and even more so among LGBTQ+ individuals (29%). Moreover, some respondents revealed that fear of their boss is a barrier to expressing themselves freely.

The research highlighted generational differences, with Gen Z being the most concerned about what colleagues think of them (25%), while workers aged 45+ are more worried about potentially offending others in the workplace (31%). Geographically, workers in the South East expressed greater concerns about their colleagues' opinions (28%), compared to those in the West Midlands (16%).

The study also identified the top workplace worries, including asking personal questions (31%), mispronouncing a colleague's name (23%), not being sensitive to religious beliefs (19%), assuming or not being aware of someone's sexuality (19%), and alluding to the inadequacy of their work (18%). Additionally, 45% of respondents stated that having good relationships with colleagues was crucial when discussing personal matters at work and being themselves.

Overall, the research highlights the prevalence of FOOC among UK workers and its impact on job satisfaction and productivity. It emphasises the importance of creating a workplace culture where employees feel comfortable being their authentic selves and fostering positive relationships among colleagues.