Croner Elvis Poll Reveals Employeesí ëSuspicious Mindsí

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley (16 August), an online poll by workplace experts Croner has revealed that almost a quarter of employees felt they were ëcaught in a trapí at work.

Twenty four per cent of people who responded to a Croner email questionnaire said that the Elvis classic ëSuspicious Mindsí was the song that best described their workplace.

They felt that their workplace was dominated by office politics and littered with unsupportive colleagues, many of whom would stab them in the back to advance their own careers or who had received undeserved promotions.

Others (13% of respondents) felt ëAll Shook Upí by work because they were too worried or stressed by not being able to keep to deadlines.

When asked about their boss, the poll did show that 13 per cent of employees had a manager who recognised peopleís skills and took them with them as they move up and on in their own careers - ëGoodluck Charmí was the Elvis song most people felt appropriate here.

However, 11% of respondents were not so complimentary likening their boss to the classic 1970 Number One hit ëThe Wonder of Youí - somebody who favoured some colleagues over others.

Only 5% of those asked felt their boss had a ëWooden Heartí.

Although a light hearted look at employeesí attitudes towards the workplace, Croner believes the results have revealed some interesting themes that bosses ignore at their peril.

Richard Smith, employment services director at Croner, said: ìThe results serve as a timely reminder that 30 years on from Elvisís death there are still issues in the workplace that employers need to be aware of and deal with.

ìStress and feelings of loneliness, isolation and being trapped are as pertinent today as they were in 1977 - perhaps even more so in modern Britain where the pressure to succeed and long hours worked mean that career-minded individuals push themselves to the limit.

ìEmployers need to be alert to the dangers and develop strategies for tackling any issues that employees have before they become really serious problems and start to undermine employeesí confidence and feelings of worth and value.î