Rudeness and lack of consideration at work are, it appears, on the increase. And according to a report from staff agency Office Angels, people are becoming increasingly upset and stressed by colleagues’ bad habits.

From a survey of some 1000 workers, the report suggests that "British manners" vanish as the working day starts. Colleagues who don’t say "good morning" irritated 60 per cent of the respondents. (In France, failure to greet and shake hands with all your colleagues on arrival is almost a sacking offence.)

Top of the top ten ratings was "not turning off mobile phones during meetings" - 85 per cent objected. At the low end, two factors upset or annoyed 20 per cent in the survey: colleagues’ "increasing lack of personal interaction when discussing work" and those who "look depressed all the time".

The report is titled "The Office Jungle". Its author, Judi James, says: "High stress levels in the office can lower levels of tolerance, leading to office rage. Small irritations can become crucial as they are triggers for a build-up of annoyance."