Over one third (38%) of employers that offer food to staff do not provide healthy options, according to research by Aviva.
The research, Health of the workplace, which surveyed UK employers and employees about issues relating to workplace wellbeing, also found that 43% of employees said their managers encouraged lunch breaks in a bid to look after employees’ health.
Almost half (45%) of respondents do offer food in the workplace, but nearly 15% of employees believe their health is affected because they are eating unhealthily at work.
Dr Doug Wright, head of clinical development at Aviva UK Health, said: “It is well documented that eating more healthily can improve general wellbeing and life expectancy, so there are countless benefits to adopting this approach in the workplace.
“Employers can help by offering healthy food options to support and encourage their staff to eat well, and by removing those barriers that still exist to taking a proper lunch break.
“Employees too, need to break the habit of skipping lunch or eating at their desks. A cultural shift in the workplace towards proper lunch breaks will improve overall employee wellbeing as well as productivity.”
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