Employees in Canada who skip breaks during their workday are not only hindering their productivity, but the lack of recovery time could also lead to burnout, fatigue and dissatisfaction with their job, according to a study by a leading Canadian university.
University of Waterloo researchers found that employees often neglect to take breaks because they feel pressure to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely fashion. The study also uncovered that workers are less likely to take a break if they perceive that their supervisors discourage breaks in the workplace.
“We recognize that it may not always be possible for employees to take more breaks, but if employers can promote employee well-being by addressing the conditions that can make work unpleasant, they may be able to reduce the number of breaks needed,” said Vincent Phan, Ph.D., a researcher at test development, proctoring and analysis company Meazure Learning in Waterloo, Ontario.
In Ontario—the Canadian province with the highest number of full-time workers—the Employment Standards Act (ESA) mandates that most employees must be granted a 30-minute break, or eating period, for every five consecutive hours of work. During a 10-hour shift, employees can take a second 30-minute break.
This can be stated in an oral or written agreement, according to the ESA. Meal breaks—whether paid or unpaid—aren’t considered work hours and aren’t counted toward overtime.
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