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Multitasking eats the lunch hour. More people than ever in America are skipping lunch hours and eating at their desks instead.
Employees in Hong Kong’s financial district staged a protest last week because their lunch break of 90 minutes was going to be shortened to only an hour.
Here in the United States, lunch hour is unheard of for many U.S. workers, yet nobody is marching in the streets over it.
Americans don’t seem to have enough time for an actual lunch break. Only 35 percent of employees in this country say they almost always take a lunch break, according to a web survey in 2011 of about 750 respondents by Right Management, an HR consulting firm. Another poll by the company taken in 2010 that surveyed 2,300 found nearly 50 percent of U.S. workers consistently took time off for a midday meal.
“Lunch patterns allow us to infer a few things about the North American workplace; and one thing that we already know is that the pressure for productivity and performance can be relentless,” said Michael Haid, senior vice president of talent management at Right Management. “This pressure is showing up in various ways like our finding that one-in-three employees are very likely now in the habit of taking lunch at their computers and phones and with supervisors and colleagues.”
About 65 percent of employees either eat at their desk or don’t take lunch breaks at all, according to the company’s recent survey.
It’s not just rank and file workers. A study by CareerBuilder found that about 40 percent of corporate executives brownbag their lunches, while only 19 percent eat out at a sit-down restaurant, and 17 percent get fast food.
And it’s women executives who seem most lunch-away-from-the-office adverse. More than half, or 57 percent, of women polled said they brought their lunch from home, compared to 36 percent among their male manager counterparts.
Sure, it looks good if you’re busting your butt to get work done, especially in this tough job market, but not taking time out for a healthy lunch could have far-reaching ramifications.
The lunch hour was always seen as a time to get away from the office or factory floor, and that's what workplace experts say workers need to get the full benefits of a meal break.
It's critical for workers to leave the office for lunch, said career and executive coach Rebecca Weingarten, in order "to clear their heads and gain perspective on what they're working on. Also if you're stumped with a problem, thinking about something else actually helps the brain process and come up with a solution."
And Doug Wright, head of clinical development for European insurance firm Aviva Health, which published a report on workers eating habits late last year, added: “It’s well documented that eating more healthily can improve general wellbeing and life expectancy, so there are countless benefits to adopting this approach in the workplace, It’s also important for people to take a break from their desks where possible as this can help improve both morale and efficiency for employees.”
There are no federal laws mandating lunch breaks. “It’s actually something that’s regulated on a state-by-state basis,” said Marc Mandelman, an employment attorney for Proskauer in New York.
Photoblog: Adios a la siesta? Spain's long lunches under threat
In New York, he explained, “you have to provide at least a half an hour lunch break to employees in most situations. But depending on the industry, there may be different requirements.”
There are 22 states with some sort of meal-break mandates on the books, according to Department of Labor data. See this chart to find out if your state is one of them.
Most white-collar jobs, Mandelman continued, generally provide about an hour for meal breaks.
Even so, that doesn’t mean workers are taking the time to munch in peace.
“I wonder if the reluctance to take a break is an expression of devotion or a negative consequence of the unrelenting pressure some organizations are exerting on their workforces to get more done with fewer resources,” said Haid. “Taking time away from one’s desk for lunch would help reduce tension and boost energy. But our research results might lead us to ask is that still a real option for people now?”
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American workers are slaves compared to European counterparts. It's really sad and unhealthy. I hope we can improve as soon as possible.
Someone once said to me, ErinsFire, when you are on your deathbed, I doubt your last words will be, "Gee! I wish I'd spent more time at the office."
Like the boss says " eat when you die". Then goes out for a round of golf and lunch.
Yeah...and how's things working out in Europe these days.
I'd much rather be in Europe right now than here. And if I had the money, I would be!
Maybe you can get on a crew of a ship, Up Uranus, and work your way to Europe. Please let us all know if you make it and how much better things are over there.
This country would be better off UpUranus if dead beat people like you did leave.
Europe is as screwed as we are. However, their poor are laughing at our poor all the way to the bank because they don't die on the street like ours do.
winsettz...where exactly is it that the poor are dieing in the streets here? And do you think they are poor because of businesses or the rich?
I lived there for 19 years, but unfortunately I had to come back to this country a couple years ago for family reasons. I definitely prefer Europe to America, mainly because of narrow-minded hicks like you. And as soon as I can scrape the money together you bet your ass I'm going back! Perhaps if you considered broadening your horizons and see how the rest of the world views us, you wouldn't be so damned high and mighty.
I'm sure we'll all miss you Up. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.
Don't worry lifeless, I won't miss you.
Don't worry cluess moron, I'm not worried about jackass like you.
reality check; employees who feel entitled to the extra 15 min. or 1/2 hour is not good but neither are bitter employers who generalize eveyone with a gievance While they reap the benefits
I got cheeseburgers!!!!
I'm self employed, so I take lunch when I get hungry. The same with the people who work for me. Production is what counts, not how long you spend on the job. I think MSNBC and a lot of Liberals have lost that concept. Unions require you to spend a certain amount of time on the job. They don't require or give you incentive to produce. End of story!!
Very true -- a job getting done, and done well is what matters. If I ran a construction crew, and knew that they would get a house done a week ahead of schedule so long as they took hour or 90 minute lunch breaks to unwind/rest midday, I'd be perfectly fine with that. If they worked only six hours a day, I'd be fine with that. As long as the job gets done on or ahead of schedule, and done well, that's what matters.
However, it gets a little different with many white collar jobs. My job is never done. There is always more to do. Being in the sciences, time is a precious commodity, so we're constantly doing more and more things. I get a fair amount of downtime, though, because frequently I have to wait for the experiment to progress before I can do the next step.
Yup, and we read papers at night while drafting experimental design for the next day.
I think I was happiest in my various jobs when co-workers would come to my office and insist I join them for lunch- certainly a good opportunity to vent problems in a safe group of people. I recently left a healthcare job where the pattern is now for a 6:30am start time for meetings that include physicians (who as a group do not take lunches and if in private practice are loathe to cut into clinic time) or 6pm evening meetings- this on top of an already packed 10 hour workday. Even lunch time meetings are getting pressed on all sides.
Wow. Now we'll have a movement to make laws reguarding lunch breaks. God help this country from all the whinny babies.
Should be laws already.
Thanks for making my point Leonard
I had only one employment where there was a hour lunch break (union shop) other then that all others were half hour and that was more then enough time..rather have no lunch break and go home half hour early. 7 AM - 3 PM perfect with no lunch..but two coffee breaks of 15 minutes each.
No wonder workers are less productive and our businesses can not compete. It's been fun watching the fall of the corrupt empire.
as much as I hate unions...they are the only reminder to employers that people that work for them are NOT THEIR PROPERTY. They are being paid for services rendered, not a slave.
Right AC...their not slaves to their employer..their slaves to their Union.
RLM, it sounds like you're in favor of slavery. Or at least accept it for other people.
Sounds like your a severed head up your arse to me. DA
Adverse? I take it they meant "averse". One is averse to doing something. One has an adverse reaction to something. Someone needs a proofreader. :-)
The proofreader is at lunch.
I'm a professional driver and my employer is very strict about taking lunch breaks, as they are required by law and they've previously been sued for violating it. Depending on how busy we are, sometimes they tell us to only take 30 minutes, sometimes 45 or a full hour. Never know where or exactly when it'll be (though they also, claiming requirements, always have it start before we hit 5 hours).
In fact, I work for an appointment-based passenger service (for the handicapped) and they will even move appointments to other drivers to make room, if your "scheduled" time becomes impossible or too short due to traffic (because you dropped off the person before later than they planned).
Peons had to eat at desk (30 mins.) and managers and higherups always went out to lunch for 1 1/2 to 2 hr lunch put it on company credit card and called it business lunch.
I am on lunch right now reading what you fine people have to say, to give my mind a break from what I'm doing. After you all spoil my brain with witty humor I will get back to work. :)
If I took a lunch every day I'd either have to come in earlier everyday or stay later, and I am not willing to do that. So while some may say I am "giving my time" to the company, I am not. I make sure I take my 15 minute breaks but as for lunch, I'd rather go home ealier in the evening than have to stay longer because I took an unpaid lunch. Either way I have to put my 40 hours in, but the option of not taking a lunch works better for me.
My job just has to know that the lunch is provided to me and it's my choice to not take it. They can't mandate we take lunches by law, however. But as long as I sign something that it was offered to me and they have it on file, they are OK with that.
8-4 no lunch - works great for me - my company doesn't require lunch break
Why take an hour to sit and do nothing but chew a brown bag lunch? I'd rather skip and get another hour at home to do something fun.
Let's put this in it's proper prospective. As a past general manager of 35 years, it isn't the people sitting "behind a desk" that makes the money for most companies. The people on the floor either makes or breaks a company. Yes, I wore a suit & tie to work everyday, because "that was the thing to do". But, I also kept a pair of blue jeans, and old shirt, & work boots in my office closet & put them on once a week & went out on the floor & got my hands dirty. I would put a welding hood on, pick up a grinder, run a punch press or whatever. The reason? I remembered my roots & didn't want my employees to think I was in an "Ivory Tower" & better than them. In a business where 3-5% was a good profit margin, we had a 27% net profit.
How dare you appreciate your workers. You're supposed to layoff and overwork your workers to make money, not make them feel appreciated. You are what's wrong with this country. [/satire]
I have worked several places that give you 30 minutes and were notorious for scheduling mandatory meetings during that time period. People need to take their lunch hours!
My life is too short to sell my soul to my company. I am actually more productive in any case when I take a meal break. I take a walk, get a little exercise.
I always work more than 40 hours.
My current employer requires you to take an unpaid 30 min lunch if you work 5 hours. Sometimes as a part time employee I'm only here 6 hours and I don't need that break as I'll just go home and eat there afterwards. I can't afford to eat out frequently so I do bring my lunch but I don't sit at my desk, I move over to my conference table and put my phone on voicemail and turn off my computer monitor.
At my previour job we were lucky to sit down and eat. There weren't many places near by so bringing lunch was the main option. It was a high school and working in the administration, the kids always came first. Several of us would eat together in a conference room whenever possible but if we had an issue to resolve, that came first... it didn't matter if I had just heated up my lunch. It might be 4pm before I got to eat half of it standing in my office waiting on a phone call. This was not everyday, but enough. In this position, I was never told how long of a lunch I could take and it was always paid. So, sometimes it was 15 minutes and sometimes it was an hour. Sometimes we had a longer working lunch to review items we weren't able to get to otherwise.