Working It
Who ate my lunch (hour)?
Sep 3, 2024
Nick Bloom, a Stanford professor specializing in workplace behavior, joins to discuss the changing dynamics of lunch breaks in our new remote world. He highlights how flexible work has led people to forgo their lunch hours for errands and exercise. Is this shift affecting social connections at work? Bloom shares insights alongside FT Magazine's Harriet Fitch Little, revealing the evolution of business lunches and the humorous realities of eating at your desk. Can a great homemade lunch spark connections, or are we just spilling on our keyboards?
19:23
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Quick takeaways
- The decline of the traditional lunch hour reflects a significant shift in work-life balance, with employees prioritizing personal tasks over extended breaks.
- Networking opportunities have evolved post-pandemic, with breakfast or dinner meetings increasingly replacing traditional business lunches as employees seek more flexibility.
Deep dives
The Decline of the Lunch Hour
The traditional lunch hour is fading, especially as remote work becomes more common. Data analysis from a company called Rome indicates that worker activity remains constant throughout the day, without a typical mid-day break. Employees are increasingly opting to use that time for personal tasks or chores instead of taking a proper lunch. This shift highlights a fundamental change in work-life balance, where the lunch hour is often sacrificed for work or personal flexibility.
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