The Key to Increasing Productivity? Employee Breaks

Research and statistics on the benefits of employee breaks 

To better understand the relationship between employee breaks, productivity and other benefits, let’s dive into some of the research that’s been conducted on the topic in the past decade. Each of these studies provides some insight into how offering breaks and flexibility to your team can end up benefiting both your employees and your business.

2014 Staples data about employee breaks

In 2014, a Staples study found that more than 85 percent of employees believed taking regular breaks during the day would boost their productivity. Overall, more than one-quarter of workers didn’t take a break aside from lunch.

The research discovered that 1 in 5 employees said guilt is the reason they don’t take any breaks, while 55 percent said they don’t feel they can leave their desk to take a break.

The study also revealed that breaks can combat workplace burnout: 59 percent of those surveyed said more breaks would improve their work happiness, and 43 percent said it would boost their personal happiness. Additionally, 37 percent said regular breaks during the day would improve their health. 

The research shows that the key to getting employees to step away from their desks to recharge may lie in company break rooms. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said a well-stocked and comfortable break room would encourage breaks, while 76 percent said break rooms would allow them to unwind and relieve stress. 

The study was based on surveys of more than 200 office workers at organizations of all sizes across the U.S. and Canada.

2019 Staples data about employee breaks

A 2019 version of the aforementioned Staples study found that 90 percent of employees would feel increased morale from more flexible work arrangements. Part of such flexibility could include more capacity to take breaks. 

Similarly, 67 percent of employees said they would leave their jobs if their work arrangements became less flexible. The study otherwise focused on connectivity, workplace design and employee wellness.

2021 clinical research about employee breaks

A North Carolina State University study published in March of 2021 found that employees, especially fatigued ones, benefit from “microbreaks.” Occasional five-minute employee breaks led to increased energy and a greater likelihood of setting and achieving work goals. 

Upon the study’s publishing, other experts added that breaks can redirect blood flow from overworked parts of the brain and refresh cognitive functioning.

The study found that employees in workplaces that emphasized employee health and wellness often took more breaks. They typically met their goals best when they had complete autonomy to take breaks on their own accord.

2022 scientific review on microbreaks and performance quality

A 2022 systematic review of research into short breaks and their impact on worker productivity and performance quality found that “breaks from work can improve task performance through beneficial resource-strain, cognitive, affective, and motivational mechanisms.”

The review was led by Patricia Albulescu, a member of the department of psychology at West University of Timișoara in Romania. Albulescu and her coauthors noted that the existing research into breaks and productivity suggests that microbreaks of at least 10 minutes can improve employee performance.

The authors of the review also noted that longer breaks may provide even better improvements, especially when recovering from particularly depleting tasks. So, while employees may be encouraged to take a 10-minute break periodically throughout the day, employees who complete a big project might be encouraged to take a longer break, such as going on a walk for 30 minutes to recharge.

What other experts say about employee breaks

John Trougakos, associate professor of management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, said job-related stress is an alarming trend plaguing workers and, as a whole, costs companies hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

“However, these costs can be reduced with regular work breaks while improving employee effectiveness [and] satisfaction, and reducing strain and fatigue,” Trougakos said. “Disconnecting from work can do wonders for people’s energy and mindset.”

“It’s important that employees understand the value of taking a quality break,” said Tom Heisroth, senior vice president of commercial and enterprise sales for Staples Advantage. “Disconnecting can increase their happiness, health and productivity.”

How to encourage employee breaks

If you want to encourage your employees to take short breaks throughout the day, consider the following tips: 

• Provide healthy snacks and beverages. Employees want snacks, and the majority prefer healthy options, such as nuts and granola bars, compared to chips, cookies or candy. As a bonus, healthy diets can improve productivity, so this is a win-win.
• Think about comfort. Furniture is an important consideration for the overall comfort and appeal of the break room. Employers should provide furniture that allows employees to unwind with their snacks and beverages and socialize with colleagues.
• Disconnect when taking a break. Trougakos said employees need to mentally detach from work to restore the energy it takes to work productively. Thinking about work doesn’t relieve stress, and employees won’t fully recharge or maximize the usefulness of a break.
• Maintain a break-encouraging workplace culture. This helps reduce employee guilt over taking necessary breaks and makes breaks more effective. Ultimately, this will improve worker well-being and productivity.
• Encourage positive energy. Employees should do something during breaks to generate positive feelings, since these emotions are energizing and can improve creativity and increase productivity.

What laws must employers follow for employee breaks?

Although federal labor laws don’t mandate employee breaks, they do regulate how you must pay employees for their breaks. Under federal law, short breaks of up to 20 minutes qualify as fully compensable work time. However, if you offer a break period with a clearly established maximum duration, you don’t have to pay for breaks longer than that period. 

Federal law doesn’t consider meal breaks compensable. However, employees may feel more valued if you pay for their meal breaks as you would for other breaks. The best employee monitoring software can help you keep track of breaks. (For more information, read our review of InterGuard, which is especially helpful if you have remote teams.)

Additionally, certain states have their own employee break laws that supersede federal law. In Maryland, for example, retail employers must give employees working four consecutive hours at least one 15-minute break. For six-hour shifts, the break period increases to 30 minutes. Eight-hour shifts require one 30-minute break and, in the law’s words, “an additional 15-minute break for every additional four consecutive hours worked.”

When in doubt about whether you must pay for certain employee breaks, consult a local employment law expert. Though federal employee break rules are clear-cut, expert help can help you stay abreast of local laws — and any unexpected changes.

Slow down to move faster

As we learn more about productivity and employee burnout, it’s becoming clear that an “always-on” mentality isn’t the most effective. Instead, encouraging bursts of productivity followed by brief respites to recharge seems to yield better results. So, encourage your employees to take frequent breaks. Even keeping these breaks relatively brief could be a game changer for your business.

Tejas Vemparala and Max Freedman contributed to this article.