Everybody loves the idea of meeting up with friends for a long lunch during the week or enjoying a working lunch with colleagues, but it would seem that taking a significant break at lunch at all is becoming increasingly unrealistic for office workers. A recent poll by O2 has found that 15.8 million workers fail to take a full lunch break and that the majority enjoy just 15 minutes of respite, as they are either too busy or worried about being away from their desks.

The poll revealed that the most common excuse for failing to take a suitable lunch break was because workers are too busy, with one in six feeling guilty about leaving their desks. Others admitted that the cost of food was prohibitive for taking a full lunch break. Nowadays, one in four workers opt to take a packed lunch to work in order to save cash, and the majority of them will eat lunch at their desks. If employees are not working, they are using their precious free time to get their personal lives in order – checking internet banking, booking appointments or paying bills.

Employers should be concerned that their employees might not be getting enough of a break throughout the day or are overworking themselves. In order for an employee to be productive and focused on the job at hand they must take regular breaks and maintain a healthy diet, which includes making time for a suitable lunch. To encourage employees to take a break, employers could provide a suitable break room with useful facilities staff can take advantage of. Encouraged to take their breaks away from their desks, employees can spend time improving working relationships and getting the much-needed break they deserve. Why not take a look at the breakroom facilities Staples Advantage provide to see what you could offer for your staff?

June 11th 2014 | Back to Industry Insights