The majority of UK workers believe that working with nice colleagues is more valuable than job security or decent pay, according Gallup's annual Eden Brown Employment Attitudes Survey.

The survey polled over 1000 adults, and it revealed that despite job losses in many industries, including manufacturing, 85 per cent of the national workforce still feels valued and secure in their jobs. In this respect there was little change compared to last year's survey.

A spokesman for Eden Brown, Ian Wolter, said that it was a big surprise that having nice people to work with took the top spot from job security in people's list of priorities. Wolter also said that with such a high percentage of people feeling that their contribution at work matters, we can say that Britain's managers are doing a good job in keeping people motivated and enjoying work.

In a list of the preferred people to work for 60 per cent of respondents suggested that Richard Branson would be their preferred employer. Wolter suggested that this result indicated that how people are managed at work is a significant factor in their job.

The annual survey also asks questions about workplace discrimination, attitudes toward charitable and community works and the value of work-related training.