Law firms, like many other businesses, are trying to accomodate staff requests to shorten the workday by allowing workers to skip lunch and leave early. Other firms allow staff members to skip lunch or work at their desks while eating in order to keep up with their work. However, according to the HR Daily Advisor, skipping lunch does more harm than good:
Blood sugar levels drop every 4 to 5 hours. If proper midday nourishment is skipped or shortchanged, performance suffers and mistakes increase. That’s prompted an innovative solution at government agencies in Nova Scotia, Canada. Management is actively pushing its people to go to lunch. Postcards have been sent to all employees, reminding them to “take back the lunch break,” and citing as reasons, the need to “relax, refocus, refresh, reenergize.”
Eating isn’t the only midday activity the experts recommended. Studies show that a 10-minute walk at lunch can spark a 2-hour burst of afternoon energy.
The end of the year may be a good time to review your office lunch policy, and make some healthy changes at the same time your staff is making New Year's resolutions. Consider circulating informal guidelines to encourage a break away from the office that includes a few minutes of physical activity and some nourishment each day. You may be surprised at staff productivity in the afternoon.
