Almost 9 in 10 Irish people have robbed a pen from a co-workers desk

Irish-owned office supplies specialist Codex has conducted research uncovering the daily habits of Irish workers, celebrating an office stationery product that is often overlooked – the humble pen…

The survey of over 600 Irish office workers found that even in the digital age, Irish workers still rely on a trusty pen and paper for taking notes. In fact, 65% of survey respondents still have up to five pens on their desk, while 30% have more than six pens to hand, showing that pens are still essential office supplies.

The survey went on to find that 85% of workers have a favourite pen, opting for models that write smoothly (51%), fit perfectly in their hand (22%) or are branded/company pens (13%). When it comes to ink colour, black is the top choice for two-thirds of respondents (62%), followed by blue ink for less than 30%. Many employees still take pride in their pens, with 1 in 4 workers willing to spend over €10 on a good writing pen.

The Codex survey revealed that ‘pen pinching’ is a common occurrence in Irish offices, with 85% of workers reporting that colleagues have swiped a pen from their desk and over 70% confessing that they have taken a pen from co-workers.

The survey explored other items that employees have pinched from their offices including staplers, calculators, plants, toasters, and even a Christmas tree! However, certain items are seen as un-pinchable, with 1 in 2 respondents agreeing that personal food is off-limits, followed by favourite mugs (1 in 4).

“We had a lot of fun with this survey, but it also shows the enduring value of the humble pen, even in our digitally-dominated office lives,” says Emily McKenzie, Head of Marketing at Codex. “From light-hearted pen pinching to taking notes and signing important documents, there’s a reason pens are still one of our best-selling stationary items.”

“This week, the Codex team will be out and about in Dublin city centre, handing out pens to busy worker bees,” says Emily. “We’re also hosting a great competition on local Dublin radio that gives Irish workers the chance to win lots of cool prizes so make sure you tune in – and keep a close eye on your favourite pen,” she said.

For more information on Codex’s pen pincher campaign, check out https://www.codex.ie/ or @Codexltd on Instagram/X.