<blockquote>'...a report from the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "
Workzone: Study Finds More Workers Opting to Forgo Breaks":
<blockquote>In the multi-tasking, 24/7 world of business, the lunch break may be going the way of the three-martini lunch. In other words, it's disappearing.
That's according to a survey that found 47 percent of workers polled take a daily lunch break away from the office. Another 20 percent of the 2,311 people surveyed take a break but usually stay at their desk to eat.
The survey was conducted by Right Management, a division of staffing and recruitment firm Manpower.
Many employees connected to the office around the clock through cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices "struggle to unplug," said Eric Breuer, market vice president for Right Management, based in Columbus, Ohio.
"Some organizations expect employees to be 'on' all the time," he said in an e-mail response to questions about the survey. "If your peers aren't taking breaks, you're less likely to do so."
The recession and slow economic recovery have contributed to the pattern of some folks not stepping out for lunch, he said.
"We know workloads have increased ... due to layoffs. We also know that employees are working longer hours. Employees are struggling to manage their time and their workloads."
Besides additional work piled on them, employees worry about contributing because they don't want to be the next one laid off.
"No one wants to be perceived as the 'weak link' and thus a target for layoff," said Mr. Breuer. "Employees are looking for ways to stay visible and demonstrate their value."</blockquote>
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Bye-Bye to Another "Perk"? October 03, 2010</blockquote>