Take a Break Insist Health Professionals

A recent report has found that many employees are foregoing lunch breaks and putting their health at risk.

The survey, conducted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) found that one in four workers do not take any breaks and a third worked through most of theirs.

The main reasons cited were a shortage of staff and too much work, but the CSP have warned that this could be at a huge cost to employers as workers are exposing themselves to “serious risk” of back pain, obesity, cancer, depression and heart disease. 

Stress was found to be one of the most common symptoms of over-working and more than 40% of people questioned felt anxious at least once a week.

The CSP is campaigning for businesses to change their current practices as concern increases that “overworking and not taking breaks is actually costing employers and their staff” according to Chief Executive, Phil Gray.

Employers should take note of these warnings and Advisor for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Ben Willmott states that: "These findings should ring alarm bells for employers.  A certain level of pressure at work is of course desirable.”

"However when the pressure people face regularly exceeds their ability to cope, in other words stress, it is likely to lead to time off work and is linked to conditions such as depression, anxiety and heart disease."

Employees are legally entitled to a 20 minute rest break for every six hours, according to the Working Time Regulations and staff not receiving their rights should approach solicitors and prevent further stress and illness within the workplace.