Workers in West Midlands have revealed what they think are the top 10 most socially awkward situations that inevitably happen at work, as part of the British Heart Foundation’s new Raise Funds Your Way campaign to get workplaces fundraising to fight heart disease.

No matter where you work, there’s always going to be those uncomfortable moments you just can’t escape from. From mild mishaps to excruciatingly embarrassing encounters, the BHF poll reveals what ranked highest in the list of the most cringe-worthy office situations which have come to form part of the daily grind in West Midlands.

Over a quarter of workers in West Midlands voted spilling something down yourself before an important meeting as top of the list[27%], followed by accidentally clicking reply all to a private email [20%].

Making small talk at the tea point or microwave came in third [19%] followed by not knowing whether to correct your boss after they call you the wrong name [16%]. 

Some of these awkward encounters might be explained by the fact that over a third surveyed in West Midlands confessed they don’t know the names of some of their colleagues [36%] and many were guilty of not knowing what many of their fellow employees actually do [32%].

Some workers in the West Midlands even go to extraordinary lengths to avoid uneasy situations with colleagues by taking a different lift, eating their lunch at their desk or even taking an entirely different route home from work.

The BHF is calling on workers across West Midlands to avoid these socially awkward situations and get to know their colleagues better by holding a fundraising event at work and raising funds your way for life saving research.

Over half of people polled in West Midlands said fundraising in the workplace was a great way to break down barriers and get to know colleagues [53%], while a further 48% said it helps boost staff morale.

Every year thousands of workplaces across the UK choose to support the BHF, and bring together teams to raise vital funds with events such as coffee mornings and cake bakes to lunchtime walks and dress down days.

The BHF urgently needs more people across West Midlands to organise their own fundraising events to help fund research that will change the lives of those living with these devastating conditions.

Sign up to Raise Funds Your Way and get your free fundraising pack at www.bhf.org.uk/yourway for fantastic ideas on how to get involved.