If you run a kayaking course or rock-climbing centre, it could be bad news.

The majority of workers think that team-building exercises are a waste of time, a survey has found.

The poll of more than 1,000 revealed that more than half think that the events do little to improve morale.

Vodafone UK and YouGov’s research found that 66 percent had endured a team-building activity, with examples ranging from eating crickets to massaging colleagues.

Extreme sports were judged to be the least effective way to promote bonding, followed by trust exercises, such as wearing a blindfold and falling backwards to be caught by co-workers.

The ‘tasks’ deemed most beneficial were going out for a drink or meal.

Some 54 percent did not think that doing more activities would improve their working relationships.

Many said they would prefer firms to concentrate on building a more supportive atmosphere at work, instead of splashing out on team-building activities.

‘British companies are spending a huge amount of time and effort in building more effective teams,’ said Peter Kelly of Vodafone.

‘This research confirms that people place more value on open, collaborative and flexible ways of working every day than one-off team-building exercises.’