Reason Aussies are working for free

Each week, Aussies are working an alarming 7.5 million hours for free, and experts warn the trend could be causing problems beyond burnout.

Despite our reputation as a laid back, beach-loving country more inclined for mornings in the surf than on the commuter train, Australians work longer hours than many other countries, including Canada, Great Britain and even the US, according to OECD data on work/life balance across the globe.

New research from Subway Australia found that four in five Australians are condensing their lunch break or skipping it all together, meaning that each week, Aussies are sacrificing an average of 7.5 million hours of lunch breaks.

A busy work schedule was the main reason for this, with 70 per cent of respondents saying they allow work to take precedence over their lunch break.

“Like many Australians, I worked from home during the pandemic,” says one woman, a 34-year-old social media manager from Sydney who asked not to be identified lest it jeopardise her employment.

Four in five Australians are condensing their lunch breaks or skipping them all together.

“During that time, I often worked through lunch, because it meant I’d get my work finished sooner and have more of the evening to myself.

“Now that we’re all being called back into the office, I feel like there is a trend of the same thing happening - but no one is going home early. We’re sticking around until close, but we’re not taking a break either, possibly because we got out of the habit of doing it, but more likely because employers have got used to piling more work on our plates.”

Identifying the reasons for condensing or working through their lunch break, more than half of respondents (56 per cent) blamed their workload or work schedule, with the next most common response - workplace culture - was selected by 10 per cent of respondents.

Subway Australia and New Zealand marketing director Rodica Titeica found the data both alarming and expected.

“The study highlighted two key trends emerging, with neither of them favourable,” Ms Titeica told news.com.au.

“There are people skipping the lunch meal entirely and others that are managing to fit in a lunch meal but skipping or condensing the break element, opting for either a working lunch, lunch on the go or worse, a lunch at their desk.”

Seaway Counselling psychotherapist Julie Sweet said the troubling trend can have long-term impacts on a person’s mental health and well being.

“Not stopping for a lunch break can lead to burnout,” Ms Sweet explained. “The risk increases for both employees and businesses alike, leading to lower stamina, concentration, attention to detail, increased staff turnover and general discontentment.

“Long term, employees who are burnt out are prone to take leave and make mistakes in their current role. People are also more likely to request mental health days, and start seeking external job opportunities.”

Aside from the wellbeing implications, there are economic ones to consider as well.

Research from 2023 published by The Australia Institute (TIA) is in line with the data from Subway, finding the average Australian worker is doing 4.3 hours per week beyond what they are paid for.

Not stopping for a lunch break can lead to burnout.

A small number of Aussies cited benefits to working through their break.

This translates to an average of $11,000 per year in lost compensation, which in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, has a significant real world impact.

Not only are we risking burnout in an emotional sense, but we’re working for free in an economic climate that has never felt more like a pressure-cooker.

When it came to the impacts of condensing of skipping lunch breaks, the most common response among survey respondents was that they felt “burnt out” (21 per cent).

Other common impacts included feeling more stressed (17 per cent), less focused (14 per cent) and overwhelmed (15 per cent).

Some respondents, however, cited positive impacts of working through their break, with 18 per cent saying it left them feeling more productive.

Originally published as Reason Aussies are working for free