What do you do for lunch?

1:27pm Monday 9th June 2008

A culture of desk dining and feeling guilty for taking a full lunch hour exists in offices across the UK according to a Reed Employment poll.

A staggering eight out of 10 workers take less than 30 minutes lunch break each day and only 18 per cent take a full hour.

A total of 44 per cent of employees dine at their desks every day, even though 71 per cent state that their company provides an area where they can take a break away from their desks.

Perhaps this reluctance to leave their desks can be explained by the fact that 55 per cent of workers report that there is no culture of taking proper breaks in their offices and because they don't see their bosses taking a full hour, they feel it might be frowned upon.

This is why one in four employees (41 per cent) admits to feeling guilty if they do take a full lunch hour.

When asked how they spent their lunch hours, a third of workers (33 per cent) venture out for some fresh air and a walk, however, another third (33 per cent) continues working straight through their lunch hour or uses the time to visit clients and customers.

The remaining 19 per cent surf the internet; 13 per cent run errands, while two per cent go to the gym.

The statistics also revealed that workers might be feeling the pinch from the credit crunch.

A total of 81 per cent would never spend more than £5 on their lunch; 43 per cent bring their own lunch into the office every day; 16 per cent buy lunch from local supermarkets and five per cent purchase sandwiches from a food supplier visiting their office. Just 17 per cent spend their money eating in local cafes and restaurants.

Workers may however, be shooting themselves in their foot by choosing to stay at their desks to eat their lunch.

While they might be addressing their guilt about taking a full lunch hour, 62 per cent feel under pressure to go back to work even more quickly.

Catherine Maskell, brand manager for Reed Employment said: "A picture of office life is emerging from our research that is unhealthy and unproductive. While long working hours are fast becoming the norm in most offices, the failure to take regular breaks is bad for employees' health, productivity and safety.

"Workers need to shake off the guilt but equally bosses need to actively encourage their staff to get out in the fresh air during the day, take some exercise or socialise with colleagues - in doing so, they will end up with a healthier, happier and more productive workforce."