Workers should be given more time to talk to each other to boost creativity, according to a report today.

It says creativity is being stifled by the "assembly-line culture" of British industry, Despite the importance of innovation, most firms and public sector organisations have not moved beyond traditional "head down" methods and a rigid chain of command, it was claimed.

Employers were urged to "lighten up" and do more to encourage creative thinking and work practices, including allowing workers to spend more time talking to each other.

The Industrial Society said in its report that creativity was an essential ingredient for business success.

"Last year creativity was almost every organisation's favourite buzz word," said the report's author Alex McKie.

"Now hyper-rationality is in and anything that looks vaguely like a risk should be avoided. But employers need to lighten up - creativity is the source of innovation and future competitive advantage."

Employers should encourage workers to spend more time talking to each other because new ideas often began with conversation, said the report.

"The employer intent on stamping out idle chatter is likely to kill good ideas in the process."