Traditional lunch hour could be becoming a thing of the past with average break ‘now lasting 31 minutes’

THE average lunch break lasts just 31 minutes, with many people spending the time browsing the internet or even continuing with their work, a new study suggests.

A survey of 2,000 adults by jobs site Glassdoor indicated the popularity of a traditional break for lunch was waning, with one in four respondents saying they would rather have a pay rise.

One in three said they spent their break away from the office and work colleagues.

John Lamphiere of Glassdoor said: “The lunch hour is becoming a thing of the past and fewer people have the time or the inclination to take a long lunch break anymore.

“Many employees grab half an hour and they use that time to work, shop, go online, play games, run errands or exercise. Eating lunch is squeezed in there somewhere.”

Most employees would prefer greater flexibility in working hours or higher pay to a traditional hour-long lunch break, said Glassdoor.