How to Encourage Employees to Take Breaks and Why it Matters (Collaborative post)

Taking regular breaks at work might seem like a less efficient and productive way to work. But breaks are an important part of the workday. This post will explore why breaks are so important and how you can ensure that your employees take the breaks they need throughout the workday.

Productivity and Breaks

One of the most overlooked reasons that breaks are important is that they give employees a chance to improve their efficiency and comfort. Humans aren’t designed to work flat-out. We need breaks to be more productive and happier while we work.
So, while it seems counterintuitive to take regular breaks when you want to get something done, doing so can actually help people to work more efficiently and make fewer mistakes. While you’re on a break, your mind can freshen up and allow you to think of new solutions when problem solving. 

While there are different ways to take breaks, many experts recommend regular short breaks, where employees can refresh their minds and bodies, and fewer longer breaks for food and association.

Morale and Burnout

Another, more obvious reason that breaks matter is because they improve morale. Burnout in the workplace is a pressing issue that doesn’t just cause issues with productivity, but it can also cause issues in your employees personal lives.
The best way to prevent burnout is to be proactive. Learn how to spot the signs of burnout in your employees and make sure that they feel comfortable speaking up when they’re getting too stressed or need a break.

Regular breaks can keep the pressure down so your employees can cope better with a higher workload.

Be Flexible

So, how can you encourage your employees to take more breaks when they need to? As mentioned before, regular breaks as often as each hour can actually improve productivity, so encourage your employees to feel free to get up and walk around when they need to. Provide drop water coolers so they can drink when they need to without having to go for a mile to get water. If people don’t feel as though they’re chained to their desks, they will be happier, more productive, and more comfortable as they work.

It’s also a good idea to bear in mind the needs and wants of your employees. If you’re more flexible with their breaks and work schedules, they will be happier to work when they can and when you need them.

The best way to foster loyalty with your employees is to be loyal and respectful first. If your employees have children, for example, they might need to work from home now and then when their children are ill. If you’re flexible and can meet their needs, they will be happier working for you and less likely to leave.

What if your employees are bad at taking breaks? Sometimes this means having a conversation and talking about how they work best. Maybe they don’t need long breaks, so end up going back to work during their lunch hour. Or maybe they prefer longer breaks and fewer breaks.