Should companies administer fines to employees who commit office ‘offences’?

-

Should companies administer fines to employees who commit office 'offences'?

More than eight-tenths of UK employees would fine their colleague monetarily if they were unnecessarily rude or offensive as well as other “office” offences.

This is according to research from SavoyStewart.co.uk, a commercial property agent which found that 81 per cent of employees would fine a colleague £25 for being rude or offensive in the office. It also found that 77 per cent of employees would fine a co-worker £30 for not meeting a set deadline.

Last month (November) that Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s manager imposed fines for his players if they fail to keep to certain rules. Such as a £20,000 fine for being late for the start of training.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Just under three-quarters (74 per cent) feel their workmates should receive a £22 fine when late for a meeting and 69 per cent believe a £14 fine should be administered for taking a personal phone call during work hours.

Over half of employees (53 per cent) think £8 is a justified fine for a colleague not coming to a work social after agreeing to attend.

Darren Best, managing director of SavoyStewart.co.uk said:

Working in an office can be fun as well as challenging. It’s an environment where people don’t have control over who they necessarily work with but should make every effort to be respectable and professional at all times. But unfortunately, this does not always happen, and people’s actions/behaviour in an office can be aggravating. This research highlights the unprofessional actions/behaviours that office workers most have grievances with, certainly enough to fine their colleagues considerable amounts for committing them.

When asked what should be done with the money accumulated from these fines, over a third (35 per cent) think it should be used to improve the office environment such as new furniture, new equipment and technology.

Only 3 per cent believed the money should be awarded to the top performers of the month in their department.

SavoyStewart.co.uk surveyed 1,466 UK office workers to obtain these results.

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

Latest news

Employers prioritise cost control over growth as confidence remains weak, CIPD says

Rising labour, energy and operating expenses are keeping employers cautious on hiring, pay and investment despite a modest rise in recruitment intentions.

Ciara Harrington: Why an AI strategy without skills visibility is just guesswork

Organisations are racing to adopt AI - but does the workforce actually have the skills to use it in meaningful, productive ways?

Maureen Kyne on hidden problems in workplace reporting

“Upward bullying is frequently buried within aggregated HR reporting, labelled as ‘conflict’ or ‘personality clashes’, masking its true impact and preventing meaningful oversight.”

Scott Mills preparing unfair dismissal claim against BBC after Radio 2 sacking: report

The former Radio 2 presenter is reportedly preparing an unfair dismissal claim against the BBC following his removal earlier this year.
- Advertisement -

Alison Lucas & Lizzie Bentley Bowers: Why your offboarding process is as vital as onboarding

We know that beginnings shape performance and culture, so we take time to get them right. Endings are often rushed, avoided or delegated to process.

Reward gaps leave part-time and public sector staff ‘at disadvantage’

Unequal access to staff perks leaves part-time and public sector workers less recognised despite strong links between incentives and engagement.

Must read

Joshua Wöhle: How to compound your productivity in the age of AI

"The concept of compounding productivity has always fascinated me."

Amanda Johnston: What are the advantages of hiring an interim HR Director?

Head of HR Practice and former interim HR Director Amanda Johnston from Alium Partners shares her thoughts on the factors that a company should consider when recruiting for this type of role.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you