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Thursday 05 November 2015 10:13 am

More than 29,000 cups of tea, 94 sick days and three workplace bust-ups: Here’s how your career adds up

By: Emma Haslett

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Ever stopped to consider how many cups of tea you'll drink at the office during your working life? What about how many fights you'll have with colleagues, clients or bosses? Nope – us neither.

But the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has nonetheless answered all these questions – and more – about our working lives…

According to the organisation, during a 47-year career (between ages 18 and 65) the average worker will have 29,328 brews, take 94 sick days, have one office romance – and get into three fights.

They'll start their careers on a surprisingly meagre wage of £8,000 – but go on to have nine pay rises. They'll also turn up late to work 141 times, and have a 94 sick days. Hardly surprising, then, that they'll have two periods of unemployment. 

The research also found one in 10 people will endure more than 25 job interviews, while six per cent will have more than five office romances.

But they won't last: more than half say their commitment to work has dented their relationships, while 60 per cent said trying too hard to make it up the career ladder has upset their work-life balance. Ah, well. Time for cup of tea number 22,937, wethinks….

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