No Time for Lunch or Vacations
By George Anderson
The phrase, “I have no life”, is gaining currency as employees increasingly
feel as though they are chained to their workstations.
Many in business today are reducing time spent at lunch or on vacation as they
try to keep up with the demands created by a smaller workforce and an increasingly
competitive marketplace.
A survey by the National Restaurant Association found approximately half of
employed respondents said they spend less time eating lunch than they used to.
Forty-percent brown bag it at least once a week.
According to an Associated Press report, nearly half of executives questioned
said they would take less than their allotted vacation time this year. Nearly
six in ten said this was due to work demands.
Moderator’s Comment: How is (and will) the perceived
lack of time and the resulting pressure affecting workplace performance?
Short term – Increased productivity.
Medium term – Lower job satisfaction.
Long term – Burnout. [George
Anderson – Moderator]