A recent survey by the non-profit health body UK active has found that the average UK worker now takes a 22-minute lunch break, down 33% from the 33 minutes that was reported in 2012.

The main reasons given for this drop were an increase in workload and pressure from management. This adds up to each person losing 18 days throughout the year, all from time cut from their lunch break and all unpaid.

This is not only a financial problem. Health experts believe that being sat at a desk for 8 hours a day, which a person will do more than if they don’t get a lunch break, can be just as bad for a person’s health as smoking. 

Unbelievably, research has also shown that being stuck at a desk all day isn’t a good way to ensure productivity. Flexibility and allowing workers time to be active during the workday increases motivation and in turn productivity.

What do you think? Are we overworking our employees to stick to an outdated business model? Or is this simply good old fashioned hard work? We’d love to hear your opinions.

If these statistics feel a little close to home, get in touch to see how we can help you. Halecroft Recruitment is glad to call itself a ‘lifestyle business.’ This means that we value home and family life over impossible workloads and ensure that we work with companies who share this ethos. We could help you find a role that works around you.