Office workers use lunch breaks to stare at screens: report

Are you using your lunch break to recharge, or are you just spending more time staring at a screen?

According to new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam, 49% of Canadian office workers use their lunch breaks to surf the internet or social media. Thirty-eight percent use the time to catch up on personal calls and emails, while 45% socialize with their colleagues.

“Even on the busiest days, it’s important for professionals to maximize the time they’re given for lunch and try to step away from their desks to refresh and refocus for the afternoon,” Koula Vasilopoulos, a district president for OfficeTeam, said in a news release.

OfficeTeam contracted a research firm to survey more than 500 office workers in Canada. The research found that 54% of workers take a lunch break that is 30 minutes or less, and, of those, 7% take no lunch break at all.

“Rather than defaulting to cell phones or other screen time for company, using a midday break to connect with colleagues can help cultivate a greater feeling of camaraderie and overall happiness at work,” Vasilopoulos said.

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This story was originally published by Canadian Insurance Top Broker.