Want a Promotion? Clear Your Desk!

Untidiness at work may be holding you back when it comes to your appraisal or annual reviews, according to a survey issued today by Esselte, the leading manufacturer of office products,

The survey of 510 companies in April, asked UK employers whether clutter was a factor when conducting someone's appraisal. The results showed that UK-wide, 52% of bosses said they do take the state of an employee's desk into consideration as an indicator of wider organisational skills during appraisals.

Mike Patterson, Marketing Director for Esselte UK commented: "Personal organisation plays a massive part in how we are perceived in at work whether we like it or not! The team you work with and your direct boss may be convinced of your ability and results. It can be a different matter though when the big cheeses walk through the office, as they are unlikely to be impressed if they see you furiously typing away behind a teetering stack of paper and unfiled documents! It gives off the wrong impression and as the survey shows, could be holding you back."

Up and down the region, the results varied hugely depending on where you work. Bosses in the East Midlands are most concerned with tidy desks with a massive 62% of respondents in this region taking tidiness into account. Office workers in the North of England, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire and Humberside can afford to be a bit more relaxed with only a third of bosses (30%, 33.3% and 38.2%) factoring the state of your desk into your appraisal.

Views From Around the UK

Scotland	Only a third of Scottish bosses take clutter into account
Northern England	The lowest result with only 30% of bosses judging you on tidiness
NW England	56% of your bosses factor how messy you are into your review
Yorkshire and Humberside	38% of bosses factor tidiness as part of organisational skills
E Midlands	Almost two thirds of bosses take clutter into account (64%)
W Midlands	Time to clean up your act - 59% of bosses look at your clutter as part of your organisation skills at work
E Anglia	Not good news for messy East Anglians - 63% of your bosses monitor your clutter!
SW England	Time to clear up - 52% of bosses look at your clutter as part of your organisation skills at work
London	Bosses are tougher on staff in London with 58% factoring in the state of your desk
SE England	49% of bosses in this region look at clutter in your appraisal
Wales	Clear your desk! 57% of Welsh employers take mess into account during appraisals
Northern Ireland	1/3 of your bosses take clutter into account