More time off has been cited as the top New Year's resolution among British managers.

A survey by the Chartered Management Institute of 2,400 managers found that 58 per cent intended to spend less time in the workplace in 2004.

Regional differences were stark with 87 per cent of respondents in Scotland registering their intention to work less, compared to 47 per cent in the North West.

Elsewhere in the survey, almost a quarter - 23 per cent - said they would change jobs in the next 12 months.

The area most likely to see job movements is London, with 39 per cent claiming they would change jobs before next Christmas, compared to just 13 per cent of managers in Yorkshire.