Skip to content
City PM
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
Friday 12 August 2022 8:00 am  |  Updated:  Thursday 11 August 2022 10:06 pm

Two thirds of Brits not taking a lunch break

By: Anna Moloney

Deputy Comment and Features Editor

Add as a preferred source on Google

Despite the capital’s bout of sunny weather, two thirds of workers are not taking a lunch break this summer, while the remaining third are choosing to dine ‘al-desko’, new research has revealed.

As the pursuit of the elusive work-life balance becomes increasingly important in Brits’ list of workplace priorities, a new study into the summer lunchtime habits of UK workers suggests there may be some way to go, with the majority of British workers opting to work through their lunch breaks.

Of the third who do take a lunch break, 80 per cent eat at their desk.

The research, by Deli Kitchen, also found that 27 per cent of Brits do not step outside for their lunch break during the summer, with two fifths saying this is due to a fear of insects and one in five because they do not want to be around too many people.

The study also gave an insight into Britons’ bread preferences, with a quarter of Brits packing baguettes for their office lunches, while a tenth chose sourdough.

The preference to dine al-desko over al-fresco comes amid a summer of unusually warm weather, with London temperatures expected to hit highs of 36C this weekend as the city enters another heatwave.

It comes after Just Eat for Business revealed last week that deliveries to London offices had more than doubled this year, with Italian being the Square Mile’s takeaway of choice.

Read more

Working Brits are struggling to keep up with AI

London has defied national trends as job postings in the capital rose.

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • Jobs and Money

Categories

  • Business

Related Topics

  • Office spaces

Trending Articles

  • Billionaire Easyjet founder in line for £800m payday from takeover

  • Burnham told to launch £100bn tax reform package

  • Construction sector cuts jobs again as house building slumps

  • Pension pressure to help swell UK debt to three times size of economy

  • As it happened: FTSE 100 slump as oil soars; Trump says Iran will be ‘hit hard’ tonight

More from City PM

  • Working Brits are struggling to keep up with AI

    Tech
    London has defied national trends as job postings in the capital rose.
  • Heinz sandwich ‘automat’ to flog sarnies in Soho for just 57p

    Life&Style
    Heinz ketchup bottle with iconic label on a wooden table, emphasizing brand recognition and classic product design
  • Nail your hospitality package this summer with Exact Lifestyle

    Life&Style
    Exact lifestyle concept featuring modern elements, showcasing contemporary living trends and stylish design elements.
  • Are office workers lonelier than they were during Covid WFH?

    Business
    A third of Brits feel lonely at work, with almost a fifth regularly going a full day without speaking to anyone.
  • Top Summer Destinations 2026 Revealed by Leading Travel Agent Opodo

    Business Wire
  • Making the jump to self-employment could damage your pension savings

    Personal Finance
    In 2022, rolling Tube strikes led to massive queues for crowded buses. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
  • ‘Chaos’ – Aviation industry slams EU border checks as millions face summer holiday misery

    Aviation
    Airport delays in Spain
  • Retail sales jump as third-warmest May on record sends Brits to the high street

    Retail
    Bustling high street scene with diverse shoppers, vibrant storefronts, and lively atmosphere in a modern urban setting.

City PM — European politics, business and analysis.

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Topics

  • Business
  • Markets
  • AI
  • Technology
  • Opinion
  • Energy

More

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Fintech
  • Legal
  • Sport
  • Life

Company

  • About City PM
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 City PM · Published by CityPM Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
About · Editorial Policy · Corrections · Contact · Privacy