- One in ten claim they’re ‘too busy’ they don’t have time to say thank you
- Two fifths of Brits admit they forget to say thank you for the everyday tasks loved ones do for them
- British people are more likely to say thank you to a stranger than their own friends and family, work colleagues or siblings
Research released by Philips today reveals that 1 in 10 Brits claim they simply ‘don’t have time’ to mind their Ps and Qs. The survey also revealed that two fifths (39%) admit they forget to say thank you to loved ones for everyday tasks and, despite the average Brit claiming to say thank you 6.9 times a day, appreciation of our gratitude is more likely to extend to a stranger who opens a door for us (60%) than to a friend who picks the kids up from school (25%) or cooks them a meal (20%).
Dr Mark Williamson, Director of Action for Happiness commented on the findings; "Too often we take our loved ones and friends for granted, or we assume they know how much we appreciate them. But we should never underestimate the power of a simple thank-you - or how great it feels when we go out of our way to remind someone that we really appreciate them.
Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference. For example, research has shown that when people are asked to write and give a thank you letter to someone they're really grateful to, it gives them a huge happiness boost and significantly reduces their likelihood of feeling anxious or depressed over the next two weeks. Deep down we all want to feel loved and appreciated. Saying thank you is one of the simplest and most important ways of showing people that we care and helping them feel valued".
However, two thirds recognised the need to say more thanks for the everyday things, with parents topping the poll of people who deserve the most thanks (80%), closely followed by:
- Grandparents (21%)
- Friends (15%)
- Retail staff (15%)
- Waiters or waitresses (10%)
Philips is encouraging people to start celebrating those little everyday things people do for us with a Great Big Little Thank You. In order to show your gratitude to someone special for the little things they do post your thank you using the hashtag #BigLittleThanks. To find out more about the campaign visit http://philips.com/thankyou and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Notes to Editors:
*Survey of 1,109 UK residents conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Philips, June 2014.
Contact:
Sophia Vanezis / sophia.vanezis@ketchum.com / 020 7611 3808
Sophie Hood / Sophie.hood@ketchum.com / 020 7 611 3568
Isabella Venour / isabella.venour@ketchum.com / 020 7611 3523
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips NV (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.
About Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier society by making positive changes in their homes, workplaces and communities. It draws on the latest scientific research about wellbeing and is backed by leading experts from the fields of psychology, health, education, economics and social innovation. Action for Happiness is part of The Young Foundation, a registered charity (274345). www.actionforhappiness.org