UK workers spend up to £1000 a year on daily office costs

New research shows the average UK employee splashes out more than £40,000 during their working life on daily office costs such as tea runs, cards and gifts for colleagues, and sponsorship of co-workers’ charitable activities.

A survey of 2000 office workers conducted by Nationwide Current Account found that the typical employee spends around £350 a year on costs such as Christmas parties and dinners, cards and presents, tea and coffee, sponsorship requests and secret Santa exchanges – and that doesn’t even include random meals out and drinks with colleagues, which can bring the annual total up to £1000 (despite 35% saying they don’t like to socialise with co-workers outside of the office). With the average career spanning 40 years, that adds up to £40,000 per person.

The top five biggest drains on workers’ pockets are:

• Clothes and bags: £119.16
• Drinks and nights out with colleagues: £102.24
• Christmas parties and dinners: £96.48
• Birthday cards and presents for colleagues: £66.60
• Coffee and tea: £66.36

The research also revealed that men are less happy about spending money at work (42% compared to 34%). Women are more likely to feel pressured into doling out cash, with one in five saying they can be talked into spending compared to just 12% of men. More than a quarter felt obligated to chip in for birthday and leaving gifts, while a third said they felt pressured into contributing to their colleagues’ fundraisers.

So the next time a collection envelope goes around for someone’s birthday present, think about the impact on your bank account.