OFFICE politics rather than doing the job causes the majority of employees most stress when they go to work.

And forget the pay packet - the real pleasure we get from work comes from friendship with colleagues.

New studies reveal how office culture is changing the key ingredients for job satisfaction.

A survey of 490 managers has found the tense working relationship between David Brent and boss Neil Godwn in BBC comedy The Office, is a reality for most office workers.

Of those polled, 60% believe an "increase in political behaviour in their organisation in recent years" was their greatest cause of stress.

This figure rises to 77% for workers in the public sector.

The report also found that seven in 10 respondents experienced stress as a result of work, with 44% saying organisational politics is the main cause of confrontation.

Valerie Garrow, principal researcher at report commissioner Roffey Park, said: "The rise in organisational politics accompanies the decline of traditional hierarchical structures in favour of flatter, more democratic structures.

"Similarly, the demise of the traditional career ladder means influencing and networking is required."

In terms of happiness, 73% of workers cite good relationships with colleagues as the key to job happiness while only 48% cite financial reward.

One quarter of staff are very happy at work, and one in five say they are unhappy.

The unhappier an employee is, the more likely they are to blame money, or perceived lack of it, for the unhappiness.

Women are happier at work than men: 82% of women claim to be happy in their jobs compared with 78% of men.

And at 85%, those aged 55 and over are the happiest employees, while employees in their 40s are the least happy.

And the final key to workplace happiness? Join a small business, as 86% of employees at firms with 20 to 100 staff are happy compared with 78% of those with more than 1000 employees.

Sarah Chiumento, who carried out the research, said: "Business should not ignore the value of good relationships. If organisations think more about what will make employees happy, they could reap the rewards."