A lunch break is an important part of the work day because it allows employees to take a break in order to rest and recharge. However, it may be tempting for employers to encourage employees to work through to increase workflow. Similarly, workers may feel obligated to work during lunch for the same reason. While it is understandable that on occasion, employees may be required to work during a lunch break in order to meet operational needs, this should not be a regular practice.
Are employees legally required to take a lunch break?
A lunch break is not a legal requirement under the Fair Work Act; however, most awards, agreements or employment contracts will set out an employee’s entitlements to a lunch break. These will state the provisions of taking a lunch break and will commonly specify how long an employee may work without a lunch break, the length of the lunch break, and when the lunch break can be taken. Additionally, if an employee is required to work during a lunch break, these same provisions will outline any applicable overtime or penalty rates.
Why is it important for employees to take a lunch break?
Taking lunch breaks is important for the health of both employees and employers, and can lead to higher productivity, greater job satisfaction, a better work-life balance, and a stronger desire to go above and beyond. Not only this, but breaks are essential to employee morale and in the current labour market, a happy and engaged workforce is key for future success.
Increased Productivity – Employers and employees alike strive to maximise output, and recent studies suggest that this can be better achieved through short bursts meaning that working through lunch breaks can actually be detrimental to productivity levels. Requiring employees to take lunch breaks to ensure adequate time to recharge helps keep workers motivated, focused and on track.
Physical Health – Whether employees have a physically demanding job or are mostly sedentary throughout the work day, lunch breaks are essential to ensure their physical wellbeing. Workers who remain sitting all day are at risk of ailments such as poor posture, muscle tension, and headaches caused by looking at a computer screen for a prolonged period of time. Employees who have a physically demanding job can become easily fatigued, putting themselves and others at risk without sufficient breaks to allow for rest during the work day.
Improved Employee Engagement – Having a company culture that not only provides for but encourages lunch breaks, can greatly help to improve engagement and job satisfaction. It communicates to workers that adequate rest time is important to the business, and provides an opportunity for connection between co-workers outside of normal work activities. Teams that play together, stay together!
Mental Health – Taking a lunch break supports a healthy work-life balance. Regular downtime during a busy work day improves employee wellbeing by helping to alleviate fatigue, and reducing stress and anxiety; all of which are key factors in burn out. Work-related stress presents many psychosocial hazards to both the business and its workers, and ensuring employees have ample time to recharge during the work day is one way to help reduce these risks.
Payroll Budget – Keeping within budget is vital to the success of businesses, and business owners will spend a lot of time and energy calculating a suitable payroll budget to ensure this happens. So, when employees are consistently working through lunch breaks and being paid for it, the payroll budget can quickly blow out leading to financial challenges for employers.
What can I do as an employer?
Leadership comes from the top, so it’s important to create a culture that encourages workers to be happy, healthy and productive; and this can only occur when employees are not burnt out. Lunch breaks are a great way to prevent this as it provides physical, mental and productivity benefits for individuals, which then has a ripple effect for businesses.
Employers can lead by example and make it a priority to take a lunch break away from their own desk each day to show employees that this is the standard. Organising team work lunches also make it really clear that taking a lunch break is not just ok, but it is actually part of the workplace culture to sit down and have a break.
Find our articles helpful? Remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to keep up to date with our practical tips and information for business owners and managers.