Fortune Editors

In today&#8217;s fast-paced work environment, lunch breaks are quickly becoming a thing of the past for many employees. At least that&#8217;s what a new study from researchers at <a href="https://www.ezcater.com/company/lp/power-of-lunch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ezCater</a>, a food-tech company, has found.<div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



According to the 2024 Lunch Report, which surveyed 1,000 full-time employees nationwide and 4,000 workers across 10 different major cities for lunch-break data, nearly half of full-time employees, or 49%, admit to skipping lunch at least once a week. 



The reasons vary: Some workers feel they won’t have enough time to complete their tasks if they take a break, while others are overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings or simply want to finish their workday earlier. As a result, fewer employees are stepping away from their desks for the rejuvenating break they need. In fact, only 38% of those surveyed said they manage to take a lunch break away from their desk every day.



When you look at the generational breakdown, it turns out Gen Z is the most likely to skip lunch, with over half of young workers saying they miss the meal twice a week. 



So why is Gen Z skipping so often, when ezCater also reports it&#8217;s their favorite part of the work day and they&#8217;re the age group most likely to block off a dedicated lunch break on their calendar? 



It could be guilt.



EzCater noted that Gen Z workers are four times more likely than Boomers to feel guilty for taking a break from work. The age group also reports having their break scheduled over with meetings, even when trying to set time aside. 



While more workers are skipping their midday meals, a whopping 98% of those surveyed still believe a lunch break improves their job performance. Those who took a break reported feeling happier and less burned out.



In place of lunch breaks, there has been a rise in what the 2024 Lunch Report calls &#8220;little treat culture,&#8221; influenced heavily by the TikTok trend of the same name. According to ezCater, 87% of Gen Z employees say they indulge at least once a week in a &#8220;little treat.&#8221; That&#8217;s more than any other generation. For young workers, specialty coffee breaks, sweet snacks, and quick savory bites are replacing lunch as a reward for powering through a busy day. Gen Z is also more likely to spend money on these treats, with 28% spending over $10 a week on small indulgences, compared to just 15% of older generations.



For employers looking to get their hybrid workers into the office, instead of just &#8220;<a href="https://fortune.com/2024/07/19/amazon-crackdown-rto-holdouts-speaking-employees-not-enough-time-in-office/">coffee-badging,</a>&#8221; the 2024 Lunch Report also confirmed that free lunch is a motivator for workers. According to ezCater, 58% of hybrid employees say they would work at least three days a week on-site if their employer-provided free lunch. 



In a work culture where lunch breaks are disappearing, offering small perks like free meals could be the key to boosting productivity, well-being, and in-office attendance.</div>

In place of lunch breaks, there has been a rise in "little treat culture," influenced by the TikTok trend of the same name.

The lunch paradox: Workers say breaks boost productivity, but most skip meals due to workload

A businesswoman sits at her desk checking her computer whilst eating a salad from a salad.

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98% of workers say breaks boost productivity, but most skip lunch due to workload

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98% of workers say breaks boost productivity, but most skip lunch due to workload

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