WHAT WE CALL HARD LABOUR

Workers spend six-and-a-half years of their lives dissatisfied with their job, research reveals.

Those in customer service top the list of professions which feel the most frustrated by their employment – almost two in five.

In joint second place are the hospitality industry and jobs in administration. Shop workers, nurses and carers make up the top five.

A study of more than 2,000 employees by recruitment site Fish4jobs found that a third of people waste half their annual working hours – an average 861 hours and 12 minutes – disgruntled at work.

Wolverhampton is the city where the highest number of people have gripes with their job, followed by Sunderland, Carlisle and Walsall, whereas those grafting in Aberdeen are the least likely to grumble.

PRESSURE

Feeling overworked was the most popular reason, with half of those surveyed saying it leads to a poor work/life balance, piling on stress and pressure.

Colleagues’ behaviour, such as not pulling their weight, also irks, along with difficult bosses, jobs not matching their description and a challenging commute.

But almost eight out of 10 workers wouldn’t leave a job they’re not happy with. They believe they don’t have the skills to get a different role. Half believe they must stay in a position for at least a year before it’s acceptable to move on.

Belinda Hankin, of Fish4jobs, says: “There are many reasons why people stay in a job they’re dissatisfied with.

“It often comes down to having the confidence to step out of an unsatisfactory role.”