Web breaks ‘better for business’
Taking short web breaks at work can help business productivity, a study has claimed.
By replacing fag and tea breaks with ‘e-breaks’, firms can help workers de-stress and work better, research by computer games firm, PopCap Games, assisted by London Goldsmiths University has found.
Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, an academic who helped with the study, said: "By factoring in a dedicated slot for an e-break bosses are fostering a more trusting working environment, boosting productivity and ultimately increasing their profit which surely makes good business sense."
He identified five separate types of e-break and assessed the effects on workers’ productivity.
Puzzles and casual gaming had the greatest positive impact, online shopping quickly reduced stress and social networking increased employees’ motivation and overall satisfaction.
Convincing employers of its benefits may be difficult - information security consultants, Global Secure Systems and Infosecurity Europe 2008 have claimed workers’ social networking use is costing business close to £6.5 billion annually.
