Eating Lunch at Work Makes Employees Unhappy

LONDON, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Even eating on public transport has happier associations than lunch on-site

It's lunchtime on an average weekday. Tummies are rumbling and a sandwich at the desk is looming for the majority of us^[1]. However, Kingsmill, one of the UK's leading bread brands, is encouraging workers to eat their lunch off-premises, even if only occasionally, in order to ensure happiness and productivity levels are kept high.

Kingsmill, as part of their new Lunch Spots campaign designed to find the UK's top 10 favourite places to eat lunch, has commissioned research in partnership with scientists from the University of Sussex^[2], identifying that people feel happiest about work after a lunch at the beach or in a park. Eating at their desk or at a work café can actually decrease their happiness at work, leading to reduced productivity and a generally unhappier workforce.

The scientists looked at the environments in which people eat their lunch in a bid to discover where people would be happiest. The results revealed that even eating on public transport is more satisfying than eating at a desk!

The Kingsmill Lunch Spots campaign, in partnership with national UK tourist boards such as VisitEngland and Visit Wales, calls on people across the UK to nominate their favourite outdoor Lunch Spot. Whether it's a hidden lunch haven, or park bench with views that take your breath away, anyone can get involved by visiting the Lunch Spots Facebook app via http://www.facebook.com/Kingsmill until April 15 2013 to nominate their favourite place to eat lunch.

Notes to editors

Kingsmill ambassador and dad-of-two Jeff Brazier is an ambassador for the campaign, calling on consumers to go to the Kingsmill Facebook page to get involved; simply place a pin on the map, and tell us why you love that location to make your nomination. Not only that, but everyone who nominates their favourite Lunch Spot has the opportunity to enter into a prize draw to win £1,500 worth of UK holiday vouchers.

Once all the nominations have been received, a panel of judges made up of representatives from the tourist boards and Kingsmill will compile a shortlist of the top 25 locations where the public can then vote for their favourite to make up the top ten. Each location featured in the top 10 will be awarded a Kingsmill Lunch Spots plaque and bench to celebrate their status as one of the UK's best Lunch Spots.

Jeff Brazier said: "I'm excited to be working with Kingsmill in the search for the UK's favourite Lunch Spots and I'm looking forward to finding out the nation's favourite places to have lunch. We want as many people as possible to get involved by visiting the Kingsmill Facebook page and making their nomination."

The campaign is linked to Kingsmill's sponsorship of The Big Lunch 2013, an initiative created to get friends, families and neighbours enjoying lunch together. So make sure your favourite Lunch Spot is in the running by visiting http://www.facebook.com/Kingsmill from 18^th March until 15^th April 2013 to nominate!

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1. Research carried out by BBC Breakfast, February 2013. 54% of us eating sandwiches at desk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21364588

2. Research conducted January 2013 by MindLab, Sussex Innovation Centre, University of Sussex

SOURCE Kingsmill