By Carmen Roberts (Sept 1) One-third of American workers eat lunch at their desk, according to a survey by Right Management. But at least those people eat, another third take no lunch break at all.
Reasons vary for staying in for lunch rather than leaving the computer screens and work phone behind. Sometimes pressure to be more productive keeps workers tied to their desks.
“Sometimes you just have to be chained to your desk because the environment is changing so rapidly,” said Yelena Shulyatyeva, Economist for BNP Paribas. “Economic news comes in so rapidly and you could miss some important release or some important announcement, like the Fed chair announcement. You don’t want to do that. You actually want to be there all the time.”
“We try to stand up and go and get your lunch, just because you need a little bit of exercise in the middle of the day and just a little break.”
Still, eating at the work desk may actually improve productivity.
Relaxed Workers
Scientists at Humbolt University in Berlin found that eating outside the office makes workers more relaxed, which may hurt job performance for employees who need to stay focused. Conversely, creative types may feel stifled without a break away from the office.
Desk Dining Downsides
And there are other downsides to eating at the work desk.
Barbara Pachter, Author of Essential of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat and Tweet Your Way to Success said, “If it becomes a standard pattern, you are missing opportunities to interact with colleagues. Not only do you miss a chance to get to know them, but you miss out on a lot of company news. If you’re interacting with potential customers, having lunch is a way to get them out of the office and a way to get to know them more. They also get to know you more.”
With so many people chowing down at their desks, they would do well to remember a few rules of etiquette.
Rules of Etiquette
“One is don’t bring in any foods that smell a lot because the smells will carry through the office, and people don’t like that,” said Pachter. “Also, clean up after yourself. Workers don’t like to come into the office and see food all over the place. And while it’s different overseas, Americans don’t like it when you make noise when you eat.”
The Rules Vary by Culture
Cultural differences also affect attitudes about eating at the work desk. “Especially overseas, people want to get to know you,” said Pachter. “Often times they won’t even do business with you unless they know you and have connections with you. So going out to have a meal with somebody is an opportunity to get to know that person. And in many countries acceptance of food; acceptance of drink is acceptance of the host.”
An ING Direct study shows a similarity between Americans and workers down under. Nearly one-third of Australians eat lunch at their desk.
The length of the lunch break also varies around the world. In the U.S it can be as short as a few minutes or by some union rules up to an hour. In France, however, lunch may last two hours.