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Snobbery over job titles is one of the things causing workers to seeth with envy, according to a study by Office Angels.

And the firm, which has offices in Bank Street, Bradford, says a survey it has just carried out shows 90 per cent of employers and 70 per cent of employees think they cause divisions among colleagues.

The research, conducted among 1,500 office workers, looked at how much importance people place on job titles.

Surprisingly, it found that, given the chance, 70 per cent of office workers might be willing to forgo a pay rise in favour of a more 'motivational' or 'professional' job title.

Su Morris, branch manager of Office Angels in Bradford, who is happy with her job title, said: "What sometimes happens is that more ambitious people will go for a title that sounds good when they are looking for a step up in their career.

"For example, you might find them going for an executive administrator rather than an administrator.

"But when we go through jobs with candidates we go through everything involved with the job, then discuss the job title.

"It is not a big problem round here, but sometimes we find people who are looking for a better title than the one the currently have when they are searching for a new job," she added.

Paul Jacobs, corporate communications director of Office Angels, said: "It is important that employees don't get too 'hung up' over job titles.

"Although they do seem to cause some friction they are a necessary part of office life.

"It is important that employers motivate their staff and encourage them to strive towards working up the ladder to get the recognition they deserve," she added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.