Starving for lunch hour freedom

Lunchtime. It's the adult recess. The one hour where we unlock ourselves from our desks and run to the nearest meadow to frolic. Or, in my case, pick up a sandwich and run to the cleaners.

But the noonday ritual might disappear soon, according to MSNBC Career columnist Eve Tahmincioglu. The latest trend: companies making employees eat at their desks and multi-task smaller jobs. Ostensibly, this approach doesn't interrupt the workday, keeps workers in the groove, and increases productivity.

Maybe it's just my growling stomach talking, but I question the thinking behind this. Unless employers hire bionic people, everyone needs to recharge their batteries during the day.

Without the break, workers will be more susceptible to stress, exhaustion, and illness. And frazzled, sick employees won’t help achieve higher productivity or profits. This is particularly true in tech fields, where fuzzy heads and bad attitudes can stifle attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.

Granted, the American business model couldn't withstand the three-hour siestas enjoyed in Spain or Greece. But there's no need for such a dramatic shift. In exchange for one unstructured hour, employees will give you seven full of energy, creativity, and hard work. Now that's what I call a good trade.

Posted by Roseanne D.