Monsterís Poll Reveals UK workers eat lunch at their desks

Monsterís most recent poll of workers across Europe has found that the lunch cultures across the continent vary strongly.

With scientists saying that the desk, in terms of bacteria, is 400 times dirtier than the average toilet, the Monster Meter poll shows that over 47% of office workers in the UK still choose to eat lunch at their desks.

Eastern Europe showed the largest number taking time out for a leisurely sit down lunch with over 60% in the Czech Republic indulging. In countries renowned for their love of food, such as Italy, France and Switzerland 53%, 47% and 46% of workers (respectively) enjoy a leisurely sit down lunch every day, whereas only 20% of workers in the UK, 8% in Sweden and 6% in Denmark can spare the time.

Monster Meter recently asked 17,302 European workers, ìWhat does a typical lunchtime mean for you?î

Please see below for European and UK results respectively:

Sandwich at my desk
UK 47%
Europe 35%

A good walk about and grab a bite
UK 24%
Europe 22%

Leisurely sit-down lunch
UK 20%
Europe 34%

I don't eat lunch
UK 9%
Europe 9%

The highest reporting of skipping lunch entirely came from respondents in Poland (21%) and Hungary (18%), whereas the least likely to skip it includes the UK (9%), the Dutch (5%) and the French (4%).

ìOur poll demonstrates that, while working practices may be similar across the continent, Europeans hold very different attitudes to the social side of working, such as taking time out at lunchtime,î said Rob Brouwer, CEO Monster UK and Ireland.

Having a proper meal and good walk at lunch can also boost the energy levels and make workers more productive during the afternoon. Unfortunately only 24% of UK workers fall into this category and for those who feel they are unable to spare the time to leave their desks for lunch, the Monster website can help with improving time management skills, concluded Brouwer.

Of those polled, Finnish workers were twice as likely as the majority of other respondents to take a walk about at lunchtime as well as picking up some food (58%).

The results of the current Monster Meter are based on votes cast by Monster.com visitors from 3rd to 17th April 2007. Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. The Monster Meter, a product of Monster, the leading global online careers website and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide Inc., is a series of online polls that gauge users' opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace. Anyone interested in voting in Monster's current online poll may do so by logging onto www.monster.co.uk.