Busy staff opt for working lunch

Staff are increasingly working through their lunch break, a new survey has found.

According to the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) report almost 90% of workers do not take their allocated break, choosing to stay on the job instead, HR Zone reports.

Only 12% of people opt for the full hour for lunch, while just over half took less than 30 minutes.

Peter Mooney, Head of Consultancy at ELAS, told the news provider: 'Employers must realise that staff staying at their desk may appear eager and committed but if they fail to take a decent break during the day that could have an adverse effect on the whole business.'

However Mike Emmott, Employee Relations Advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, suggested that companies should be flexible, allowing staff to leave earlier if they choose not to take their full lunch break.

The BBC reported on this trend back in 2002, when it found that long lunches are becoming a thing of the past across Europe as busy workers opt for a quick sandwich at their desk instead.