A new poll has revealed the importance of big remuneration packages to happiness.

In news that may be of interest to recruitment business start-ups planning to outsource some of their back office services to an agency, a new poll has revealed the importance of big remuneration packages.

According to the Harris Interactive survey conducted on behalf of the Metro newspaper, a good salary is the main motivating factor for people when it comes to jobs.

It would appear the working environment and the kind of people workers engage with are no longer the main factors, as the study found being paid well is key to being happy.

Commenting on the study, career coach Joanne Mallon explained that the recession may have changed attitudes among workers.

She said: "I think the fact that we've come through a recession is making people a little more insecure about what they're earning. If the survey had been done three years ago, it might have had different results."

However, more than 16 million UK workers do not expect a salary increase this year, a recent YouGov survey commissioned by uSwitch.com found.