London - Think carefully how you take your caffeine in the morning – a choice between tea and coffee can determine your salary and popularity at work.
Employees who drink coffee are more likely to be hot-headed, argumentative and live on a knife-edge, researchers found.
But they have bagged more pay rises over the last five years and earn on average £34 490 (about R539 600) a year – £2 160 (about R33 800) more than tea drinkers.
Those who prefer a cup of Rosie Lee (rhyming slang for tea) are less likely to be promotion material, but tend to be fair and laid-back at work.
The poll by Zip HydroTap instant water heaters also found that executives are more likely to prefer coffee, but tea drinkers were ‘the life and soul’ of the office.
And 84 percent of tea drinkers claim to be a team player compared to just 74 percent of coffee fans.
Fewer coffee drinkers said they were “very stressed” - ten percent compared with 12 percent of tea drinkers – but coffee drinkers were more likely to be late for work, despite their caffeine fix.
Zip spokesman Nick Taylor said: “Most workers need a cup of tea or coffee to get them through the day and most people could instantly define themselves as either a tea or coffee drinker.
“Workers up and down the country will be able to relate to the findings of this poll.
“We all know the coffee fiend who needs their caffeine fix before they start the day or the tea lover who has strict requirements about how their brew is made.”
Tea drinkers dressed in a more casual and cool fashion around the office whereas coffee fans described their style as funky and edgy, the research showed.
Those who favour a cuppa were more likely to drive in to work, whereas coffee fans were more likely to hop on the bus or train.
The typical tea or coffee drinker has between three and four hot drinks everyday but tea lovers were more likely to combine a brew with a good gossip.
And when it comes specifically to whose round of drinks it is, tea drinkers are more likely to argue with colleagues.
Yet the average worker makes just one hot beverage for their team in a day and 72 percent said they need a drink to ‘perk’ them up and stay motivated.
Taylor said said: “The research shows there is definitely office politics when it comes to doing the tea round.
“We have all been in the situation where we have a heavy work load and are getting hassled by team members to make a big round of tea.
“But it’s pretty harmless if it’s just playful office banter.”
TEA DRINKERS TEND TO BE...
Laid-back
Friendly
Fair
Fun
Earn £32,330
...WHILE COFFEE ADDICTS ARE...
Argumentative
Ignorant
Hot-heated
Feisty
Earn: £34,490. - Daily Mail