You may have heard about a French law that makes eating lunch at your desk illegal. Now, before you have a knee-jerk reaction because it’s French, understand that it benefits everyone in the office.
Here’s Five Fast Facts about France’s Lunch Law:
- 🥑 Health Hazard - The law was put on the books almost 130 years ago when disease was rampant and it was a way to air out the place. Nowadays, it gives employees a significant pause for a healthy mental and physical break.
- 🥓 Not Just Desks - The law applies to every job in the country. Offices actually shut down for an hour (or more) to give everyone the time they need.
- 🥡 Production - The French definitely are onto something. Studies show that 90% of employees who take lunch breaks away from their desk (and even the building) are far more productive and happier. Compare that to one in five Americans who eat lunch away from their desks and you’ll see why there’s a problem.
- 🍲 Stretch - There’s also a potential physical health benefit. Since 80% of American jobs are now sedentary, employees can use that time to get out and do something, including everything from a simple walk to a visit to the gym.
- 🌮 Brain Food - Studies also show that creativity and innovation happens when people change their environment.
🔥Bottom line: We’ve come to accept that the appearance of productivity is far more important to an employer than actual productivity, that quantity is better than quality. France begs to differ and they have the data to back it up. The real question is whether or not American businesses are willing to make this adjustment, too.
Do you eat lunch at your desk or on the jobsite?
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