Workers want a boss's love

When Linda Evangelista famously bragged that she only got out of bed for $10,000, the supermodel seemed to speak for everyone who spends most of their adult lives at work.

Money, money, and then more money have long been thought of as most people's top three reasons for getting up in the morning.

Until now that is. It turns out that what we wanted all along, but were too busy paying the mortgage or credit card bills to realise, was nothing more than a hearty pat on the back.

A little word of encouragement from the boss - even a perfunctory "you did all right there" or "thanks for that" - is what makes those 12-hour days all worthwhile, according to a major survey of British workers.

Recognition for work done heads the Reed Employment Satisfaction Index, a new attempt to understand what motivates hard-working Brits. The rest of the contents prove equally surprising to anyone under the misapprehension that work is all about the pay cheque, the perks and the respect of fun-loving colleagues.

Instead we are told that the 21st-century pen-pusher is more high-minded and less money-orientated than those of former generations.

Coming in at number two in the top 10 motivations, apparently, is "opportunities available with the current employer". Put in terms more readily understandable, this means, "how likely am I to be given my P45 and asked to clear my desk?"

Next most important, according to those who filled in the questionnaire, is "organisational fit", which is apparently nothing to do with how good the work gym is but more to do with whether you share the values of the company.

As for "undertaking fulfilling tasks", the somewhat earnest fourth motivational factor, surely this can only mean there is not much time to kill after e-mailing friends and reading the papers.

"Relationships at work" is a more credible answer, although it is unclear whether this refers to relationships in the "down-the-pub-with-colleagues-after-work" sense, or the "dinner-for-two-and-divorce papers" sense.

Finally, at number seven, we come to financial benefits package, or "can I have a pay rise this year?"

The other key factors that keep Britain working are "desire for major change" (eg becoming self-employed) and "balance between work and non-work activities", both of which seem to be about being able to stay at home when you want to.

Reed believes the research reveals a new generation of "Fulfilment Seekers", successors to the Nineties balance-seeker and the Eighties yuppie.

But it still comes down to the bottom line of money. We are less money-orientated because most of us have more of it, the survey concludes. Mark Williams, head of assessment at recruitment consultancy Reed, says: "With low unemployment and high earnings, the British working population is more affluent than it used to be.

"In many respects, we want work to be more like home."