Proper lunch hours 'can boost employee motivation'

Date: 10/09/2010

Companies looking to boost employee motivation should make sure that their staff have a proper lunch hour, it has been claimed.

Peter Baker, chief executive of the Men's Health Forum, has highlighted the fact that workers' mental health is deteriorating due to the end of the traditional lunch hour, which could in turn harm employee motivation and the speed at which people work.

In addition to the psychological impact of longer hours, he said that this is also having physical repercussions, perhaps highlighting the benefits of companies offering gym facilities.

He adds that companies do not need to offer this type of benefit, as even organising a walking group at lunchtimes can have benefits.

Mr Baker said: "We'd all be better off, and probably more productive too, if we left our desks or benches for a while at lunchtime to take a walk and have a change of scene."

Recent research published in the Heart journal suggested that long work hours and lower levels of physical fitness not only harm employee motivation but can actually increase the risk of death from any cause in middle-aged Caucasian men.

Written by James Yorke ADNFCR-2060-ID-800061168-ADNFCR

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Proper lunch hours 'can boost employee motivation'

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