Research commissioned by the Institute of Personnel and Development shows the image of British workers as insecure and downtrodden to be a myth.

The institute, which represents the country's personnel officers, has carried out the detailed research into attitudes during the past five years.

Image of workers as insecure and downtrodden is a myth

It concludes that popular portrayals of a harsh British workplace populated by dissatisfied and insecure workers are false.

Alternatively, it shows workers are largely satisfied in their jobs, have high commitment to their organisations and feel generally secure in their employment.

It also makes international comparisons.

Workers in the Republic of Ireland are found to be happiest in the workplace, while those in Greece are the least satisfied in the European Union.

British workers' happiness lies somewhere in the middle.

The institute concedes that some dissatisfaction does remain among a minority of British workers.

but mostly it says this is confined to traditional male, blue collar, unionised, occupations.