E-breaks boost productivity, research claims

Banning personal internet use or e-breaks could lose employers money, new research has suggested.

Allowing employees such as sales jobs staff a ten-minute online break could help reduce stress while helping to improve productivity, a report by PopCap Games has found.

Such a scheme could even be used as a sales recruitment incentive for those peeved at having their online access restricted at work.

According to the research, more than half (57 per cent) of workers now cut out their lunch break in favour of using the internet to stifle the monotony of work.

A further 71 per cent of employees claim to sneaking a peak on the internet when their bosses are not looking.

The research was supervised by Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic of Goldsmiths University, who claimed that allowing a ten-minute ebreak can bring significant benefits to employers.

He said: "By factoring in a dedicated slot for an e-break bosses are fostering a more trusting work environment, boosting productivity and ultimately increasing their profit."

Meanwhile recent research by Reed employment found that 80 per cent of staff take less than 30 minutes for their lunch break at work.


Aaron Wallis are a Milton Keynes Sales Recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Filed: 30-05-2008