Working Through Lunch Less Exhausting If Done by Choice - East Idaho News

Working Through Lunch Less Exhausting If Done by Choice

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GETTY 101413 LunchAtDesk?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1381790930244Digital Vision/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Working through lunch can be a drag but perhaps not as bad as people think, according to a study out of the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Researcher John Trougakos says it has to do with the kind of work assigned and whether a worker decides to do it on their own or is forced into skipping lunch to get a project done.

Trougakos surveyed administrative employees at a large North American university to learn what they did during their lunch breaks over a two-week span and how they felt by the end of the day.

By and large, those involved in leisurely activities were the least fatigued, although if people chose to work through lunch, they weren’t as exhausted if it was their choice as opposed to being told to by their boss.

The study also looked at socializing during lunch and how people don’t enjoy themselves as much if they’re talking about work or when the boss is within earshot of their conversations.

Trougakos recommends that to improve employee productivity and effectiveness, employers should provide their staff with ways to relax during the workday.

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