IT really doesn’t pay to be nice in business, an Essex University study has shown.

Researchers mapped the personality traits of 3,000 men to work out that all-round good eggs were paid 6 per cent less than their more disagreeable colleagues.

Equating to about 72p an hour on average, the pay gap persisted regardless of whether jobs were high or low paid or required qualifications.

Being conscientious about work made little difference to earnings and the 6 per cent pay penalty also applied to men with higher levels of neuroticism, who would be more likely to give attention to detail.

Chief research officer Cheti Nicoletti said: “The results clearly show agreeableness and neuroticism are penalized in the workplace while extroversion is rewarded.

“While it is generally considered fair that workers with better cognitive abilities or education be paid more, unequal pay across workers with different personality traits, but who are otherwise identical, could be considered unfair.”

The study by the uni’s Institute for Social and Economic Research was one of the most in-depth to be undertaken into the relationship between personality and pay.

It used the British Household Panel Survey to look at data for men aged between 24 and 64 who were living and working in the UK.

The researchers classified people into different personality groups by using information on traits known as the Big Five – openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Their findings showed extroverts were paid the best, with men who were open to new experiences earning 9 per cent more than less adventurous colleagues.

Although being agreeable was shown to be a hindrance in the pay stakes, the study advised nice men not to make a resolution to be nasty.

Dr Alita Nandi said: “While being agreeable is penalized in the labour market, it may make a person more socially acceptable, increase their social networks and finally lead to better mental health and wellbeing.”