Lunching while working becoming the norm Down Under

Melbourne, Aug 20 : Lunch hour may soon die Down Under, courtesy the increasing number of workers feeling pressured to eat at their desks.

According to experts, almost 70 per cent of workers eat at their desks on a daily basis due to workload.

An American study has found that 55 per cent of employees cut on their lunchtime, and have been using their lunch break for work related activities.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said that employers seem to have the attitude that more time spent working equates to more work produced, but this is not the case,

"Lunch should not be skipped for both employee health and productivity," News.com.au quoted her, as saying.

"Workers are worried about what people will say if they take too long on their break," said dietician Tara Diversi.

Diversi suggests that even 20 minutes out of the office at lunch can lead to greater productivity as it helps retain energy.

"The biggest thing employers can do for productivity is encourage lunch.

Workers tend to have a lot more energy if they take a break, meaning they're more on the ball for the afternoon stretch," she added.

"You will find you're getting more work done than if you didn't break at all," she said.

"Workers tend to go home feeling energised and are less likely to lounge around and snack if they've had a boost in the middle of the day," Diversi added.

ANI