Two out of five office workers sit next to someone who ‘gets on their wick’, often asking to move desks to get away from an annoying colleague, new research revealed.

They spend 1,332 hours a year sitting at their desks – but the strain often shows, a survey of 1,000 office staff found.

Recruitment firm Office Angels said its study showed that 38 per cent complained about colleagues they sat next to, sometimes confronting them about their behaviour or habits or even asking to be moved.

Complaints included colleagues who talked too much, moaned, stole items of stationery or were too nosy.

Some said they sat next to workers who went for a lunchtime workout – but did not bother to shower.

On a positive note, nearly half described their colleagues as supportive, especially during stressful times at work and at home.

More than a third of those questioned said they had become good friends with work colleagues, and a similar number believed they had learned new skills from a workmate.

On the downside, workers said they were distracted by colleagues who deal with personal affairs in the office without any discretion, talk too loudly on the phone, eat noisily, suck up to bosses or leave their desks in a messy state.

David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, said: “While the majority of office workers have a happy working environment, it’s inevitable that occasionally desk-neighbours will get on your nerves. After all, you spend a large part of your day in close proximity to them.

“If a colleague has gone a step too far, don’t be afraid to confront the problem and talk to them, but ensure you do so in a calm and professional manner, after you’ve taken a few deep breaths. It’s best to nip a problem in the bud rather than let it escalate.

“However, as the results show, it is no surprise that there are plenty of workers who have good working relationships with colleagues, and it is a known fact that many people meet their partners or closest friends in the workplace.”