Nearly 70% of Irish employees believe that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups offer the best office culture.

Almost half of those surveyed by Coyne Research (on behalf of One4all) stated they would be more motivated to give up free time and work longer hours for a smaller company.

When it came to younger workers, nearly half of those aged under 25 voiced a preference for working in an SME, with a further 20% saying they would like to work in a startup.

One4all CEO Michael Dawson said:

"What's interesting is a high number of workers feel motivated to work longer hours for a smaller company.

"People are happier to give up their hard-earned free time to help a smaller business flourish, which is a very positive thing for growing Irish companies, and for the economy in general."

The survey of attitudes to office culture, wellness and perks also found that 39% of workers disagree that providing office perks, such as breakfast or snacks in the office, puts pressure on people to work longer hours.

While salary is the most important factor for jobseekers, a friendly work environment was second in the list of most popular priorities.

A mere 3% of people cited a strong company vision as an important factor for the and just 5% prioritised a strong ethical and moral standpoint.

The best of the biggest

Last month, Indeed released its annual rankings of Ireland’s top employers, based on the employee reviews on its website.

Dell emerged as Ireland’s top company, with everything from pay and flexible working arrangements to training and opportunities for career progression taken into account.