Do lunch breaks improve productivity?

Productivity is a key concern for every organisation. Enormous amounts of time and energy are expended on devising ways to make employees more productive.

One fairly common mistake that managers make is to believe that the longer someone is working, the greater the productivity. This leads to employees feeling pressured to work during holidays, weekends and lunch breaks.

The reality is that the opposite is the case; with Harvard Business Review research showing that taking breaks is vital to productivity.

Ways in which lunch breaks improve productivity

Mental Rest

Taking a break for lunch gives the brain a chance to rest and helps to alleviate mental fatigue. This ensures employees return to work refreshed.

Creative Thinking

Stepping away from the working routine gives employees space to consider fresh perspectives and come up with creative solutions to problems.

Socialising

Taking a break for lunch will let employees spend time together – especially if there is a space provided for that. This will strengthen team spirit and will also lead to more effective collaborative working.

Physical wellbeing

Getting up from the desk and walking around will improve physical wellbeing. This will give employees more energy when they return.

What all of this boils down to is that taking proper lunch breaks helps to prevent the dreaded ‘afternoon slump’. By staying focused for the whole day, rather than just the first half of it, people are much more productive. The result is employees who are healthier, happier, more creative and able to perform to a higher standard.

How to make this happen

Establishing the sort of organisation where taking lunch breaks is normalised is a culture issue. That means it is something HR should encourage, but this needs to be backed up by senior staff setting an example. When they are seen to leave their workstations for lunch, other employees will feel more able to do the same.

If the culture of your organisation has always tended towards ‘presenteeism’, it can be difficult to change. The benefits in terms of improved productivity and profits will make the task worthwhile though.

At FiveRivers Consulting, our HR services in Buckinghamshire can really help you to manage this process smoothly. Contact us now for more information.