The daily grind could spell end of coffee break

BOSSES are being urged to encourage staff to take coffee breaks amid fears the habit could die out.

A study found we drink a total of 1.4million cups of coffee – or 110,000 gallons – every hour. However, more than a fifth of us, around 21 per cent, drink at our desk and do not take a formal breather.

Those who took a break spent less than ten minutes away from their work, with the average lasting only eight minutes, according to the survey commissioned by Macmillan.

Now the cancer charity is calling for employers to ‘bring back coffee breaks’, saying that they can help to boost workers’ productivity and mental wellbeing, as well as improving relationships between colleagues.

Psychologist Sir Cary Cooper said: ‘Never underestimate the importance of a coffee break. As we become increasingly busy, both in our personal and working lives, it has never been so important that people take time out.

‘A break can make you more productive, as well as improving your emotional wellbeing and encouraging you to build relationships with colleagues.’