One of the most common perceptions of working in tech is that you work 24/7. And for many people that’s true. But there is a surprising percentage of people who manage to take at least an hour for lunch every day.
Overall
Fifty-two percent of people in tech take an hour or more for lunch each day, according to the latest reading of an ongoing query by Comparably. Twelve-percent take 45 minutes, 15% take 30 minutes and another 21% eat at their desks while working. More than 10,000 people in tech companies across the U.S. responded to the survey.
Engineers do it best
From a department perspective, the results were even more interesting: people who work in engineering have the highest rates of taking an hour or more for lunch (55%), and just 19% of them say they eat at their desk. People in operations, on the other hand, have the lowest rates of taking an hour or more for lunch (44%) and the highest rates of eating at their desk (27%).
Engineering
Operations
Men take longer lunches than women
According to the survey, men take longer lunches than women (54% of men take an hour or more vs. 49% of women). Women are slightly more likely to eat at their desk (24% vs. 20% of men).
The cities where people take the longest and shortest lunch breaks
The Southwest is decidedly better at taking at least an hour for lunch. People in Houston had the longest lunches (59% take an hour or more) while Phoenix was close behind with 55%.
The Northeast was the worst, with Boston taking the cake. Forty-seven percent of people there take an hour or more, and 26% eat at their desks.
Houston
Phoenix
Boston
Results are as of Aug. 23.
