Nearly nine out of ten UK employees think having fun at work is important, but their employers don't agree.

Research by Adecco Group found that while workers are keen to have a fun atmosphere around the office, seven out of 10 have worked somewhere where without a fun spirit and nearly three quarters would take a pay cut to for a better environment.

More than 1,000 employees from across the UK were surveyed and two thirds admit they felt less committed and loyal to their job if there isn’t a fun, competitive spirit in their workplace.

The survey also found just 30 percent of workplaces have sports teams, clubs or schemes which employees can join, while a further 68 percent do not compete with others at work, either in achieving formal targets or on a more light-hearted basis.

Adecco director Andy Powell saidL: "As the global economy continues to strain under the burden of debt, employers should take heart from the fact that the workers we surveyed value a fun working environment over pay. Generating loyalty and commitment need not be about hard cash. In a climate of wage restraint, employers would do well to focus on employee wellbeing and happiness. However, a worrying majority of British employees are working somewhere which doesn’t have fun on the agenda. Sports, teams, clubs and schemes are also in short supply, despite the benefits they offer in engendering team spirit and positivity – especially when times are tough."