Firstly, there's the return of 'window time' - that's when staff, who have finished their daily tasks, are afraid to go home 'early' or before their boss, just in case they are viewed as lightweight and thus become vulnerable for the sack in the event of redundancies in their areas. After their work is done, they simply stay at their desks doing nothing (or looking out the window), hoping to give the impression that they have lots to do and are irreplaceable.

Running around the office with a stern look on your face, and a piece of paper in in your hand, is another old favourite. That always make you look busy. Although the best trick is to go to work with two jackets, placing the second jacket over your chair as you depart for the evening - that way, all your colleagues (and your boss) think that you have just popped out for a break and will soon return to burn the midnight oil.

We asked you to let us know if there were any more tricks that staff could use to fool their bosses. Here are some of your responses:

1.'When going out for a long liquid lunch, leave a sandwich with one big bite out of it, and an opened can of drink, on the desk. Anyone passing by in the late afternoon will think that not only that you are in the office, but also that you are working so hard that you have only just managed to grab a quick bite'.

2. Download all long personal e-mails - you look far busier reading something on your desk than on the screen'.

3. 'When moving into a new job/office, use a local map and compass to determine relevant drinking holes. Use the compass to draw two circles on the map with the office as the centre. One circle being circa 300 yards from work and the other 600 yards. Any pub or bar inside the first circle is too close (you stand too much chance of getting caught) and anything beyond 600 yards means losing valuable drinking time'.

4. 'The famous battery-operated steaming cup of coffee is an old favourite'!

5. 'Some sales people wear their headsets all the day - regardless of if they are having a call or not'.

6. 'Some smart folks simply manage to bag an office far away from their boss (ideally on a different floor,etc) - so that he or she doesn't know whether they're at their desks or not'.

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