No more lunch at lunch hour - Workplace - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2003

Will the lunch hour soon go the way of outmoded carbon paper and the obsolete typewriter? It is possible, suggests a survey of executives with the nation's 1 ,000 largest companies. The poll, developed by OfficeTeam, a Menlo Park, Calif., staffing service specializing in highly skilled administrative professionals, shows the average time spent on lunch is 42 minutes, well under the traditional hour. Close to one-third of respondents maintain it was shorter compared to the length of their breaks three years ago.

"Time is at a premium at work," observes Liz Hughes, vice president of OfficeTeam. "People must meet more deadlines and greater expectations within the same number of hours and days. Furthermore, with business being conducted in multiple time zones, there is no noon slowdown, which makes it difficult for some workers to [get] away."

Hughes warns against skipping lunch on a regular basis, as it quickly can lead to burnout. She offers the following tips on how to break for lunch on your busiest days.

Set a schedule. Keep a running list of what you plan to accomplish in the morning, and what you will tackle in the afternoon. Take your lunch between the two sets of projects.

Stay in contact. If you are worried about missing an important call or the chance to provide input on a critical project, ask a colleague to cover for you during your respite. Carry a cell phone and let the Person know when you plan to return.

Be practical. Limit stress by avoiding major traffic routes and crowded restaurants. Maximize you time by checking off something from your weekend errands. Use your time to visit the dry cleaner, buy a birthday gift, or get your car washed.