"American Idol" chatter rules in U.S. offices

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - America voted and "Idol" chatter rules -- at least in the office where about half of the workforce thinks talking about TV improves camaraderie.

A survey by staffing company Spherion Corp. (SFN.N) released on Tuesday found that the hit television talent show "American Idol" is the most talked-about U.S. television program in the workplace for the second year in a row.

Thirty-seven percent of 2,800 U.S. workers named the Fox network program as the show they most often discussed at work, up from 35 percent last year, and compared with 17 percent who named medical drama "Grey's Anatomy".

The shows "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland, crime investigation series "CSI", and medical series "House" rounded out the top five.

The survey found about 1 in 5 employees engages in "Idol" chatter on company time, with women more likely than men to bring up the show or discuss its contestants, according to the poll conducted for Spherion by researcher Harris Interactive.

The popular program is approaching its season finale on May 23, when a new American Idol will be named.

The survey also found 44 percent of U.S. workers think talking television at work increases office camaraderie with 54 percent of younger workers, aged between 18 and 39, backing this.

That should ease employers' concern about wasted time, said Nancy Halverson, Spherion's vice president of talent management.

"As long as employees aren't belting out tunes from their cubicles, or having heated arguments about their favorite contestants, it's difficult to believe that any harm is done," Halverson told Reuters.

But older workers disagree, the survey found.

A majority of those older than 65 think TV talk does not improve camaraderie, and almost half -- 47 percent -- said they don't talk about TV during work hours.