Survey: Nearly 40% of Gen Z workers skip lunch due to workload, guilt

A new report details results showing Gen Z can’t hold onto money. LiveNOW from FOX’s Mike Pache takes a deeper look.
LOS ANGELES – The 2024 Lunch Report by ezCater reveals that nearly 40% of Gen Z workers regularly skip lunch, with 47% missing it at least twice a week. This generation, born between 1997 and 2012, faces the pressures of heavy workloads and guilt over taking a break.
While half of Gen Z workers acknowledge lunch as the best part of their workday, many still feel the need to push through without a break. Gen Z is four times more likely than Baby Boomers to feel guilty about taking time off for lunch.
Despite skipping lunch, Gen Z workers understand the importance of breaks. Every Gen Z worker surveyed agreed that taking a lunch break positively impacts their job performance. However, the guilt and workload pressures still lead many to forgo these essential breaks.
A separate study from New York University showed that unpredictable work schedules contribute to poor sleep, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, underscoring the need for regular breaks.
The issue of skipping lunch isn’t unique to Gen Z. The ezCater survey found that 49% of all workers miss lunch at least once a week. Of all employees, 23% said they simply don’t have enough time to take a break due to heavy workloads, while 19% blamed back-to-back meetings.
Experts and reports urge companies to foster a healthier work culture by encouraging employees to take regular breaks. “Lunch breaks can bring people together and improve overall well-being,” said Kaushik Subramanian, ezCater’s chief revenue officer.