The National Charity Partnership recently conducted a survey of 1,700 workers to determine what employees are actually doing with their time during lunch.

The survey found that almost 30% of employees work through their typical lunch break, while almost 50% of respondents said they spend their lunch break on the Internet.  Following this data, human resource experts are urging employers to encourage their employees to take proper lunch breaks since unbroken days in an office could affect an employee’s mental and physical wellbeing. 

Potentially the biggest question among human resource professionals is why employees are choosing to stay inside during lunch.  More than 30% of the workers polled said they simply had too much work to do, one in eight blamed stress levels and workplace culture.

When gender was analysed, women were found to spend their breaks inside more often than men.  Employees older than 24 were also twice as likely to work through lunch when compared to 18 to 24-year-olds.

Those who did take lunch breaks, however, said that going outside made them feel happier and more positive.  One human resource expert said that managers and staff all have the responsibility of making sure everyone takes regular breaks throughout the day.  Employers need to work on creating an environment where people feel comfortable leaving the office for lunch.  Encouraging healthy activities may also benefit an organisation.  If workers are happier when they are able to take breaks and go outside, they will often times be more productive once they’re back in the office.