ALMOST a quarter of North-west workers would prefer to bury their heads in the sand and wait for a problem to blow over rather than tackle it -- despite the potential damage to work relationships.

According to new research from the Department of Trade and Industry, nearly seven in ten workers across the region agree that not talking openly at work would have an impact on their relationship with their boss. But nine out of 10 would not address a workplace problem for fear of making a fuss.