OFFICE politics, such as power struggles or affairs between staff, is costing British business £7.8bn a year, a new report has claimed.

The average workplace loses an hour's productivity a day because of problems such as tension and arguments.

Research among 1,600 temporary workers by internet job site reed.co.uk showed that one in four had experienced office politics in every job they had done.

Power struggles were the most frequent cause of office politics, followed by differences of opinion and favouritism.

Affairs between staff were also highlighted, as well as "gossip and backbiting" and petty arguments.

"The office is often like a school playground. It is full of bullies, troublemakers and flirts," said Paul Rapacioli, director of reed.co.uk

"Temporary workers are the new kids who see things as they really are, and our research shows that office politics is a huge problem at the moment."

More time is being lost in offices in Wales (77 minutes a day), while the North West and Scotland were the only areas of the country where office politics takes up less than an hour, according to the report.

Most temporary workers said they ignored office politics and got on with their job, although some offered advice.

"Because I was a temporary, everyone felt they could confide in me, and I ended up becoming a part-time counsellor for the whole office," said one of those questioned.