More workers are skipping lunch, with Gen Z and millennials on the leading edge of the trend.
According to “The Lunch Report” from online catering platform ezCater, 51% of employees skip lunch entirely at least once a week—up 2% over last year—and only 35% take a lunch break away from their desk every day. Heavy workloads are the top excuse for missing the midday meal, with 40% of younger workers saying that their company culture makes it difficult to take a break to eat lunch.
Gen Zers are particularly wary to make time for eating. While 94% agree that a lunch break does boost their performance, they are more than twice as likely than older colleagues to believe their employer will look unfavorably on them for taking that break. And even lunch breaks aren’t really “breaks;” 63% of workers end up wolfing down lunch during in-person meetings, with nearly a third doing so every week.
These jam-packed workdays are resulting in a bunch of “hangry” workers, which can negatively impact productivity. The report finds that 84% of employees experience “hanger” on the job, and over half say they are less focused and more irritable as a result. But 85% of employees surveyed said that afternoon productivity improves after eating lunch—a 9% increase compared to 2024.
"Our data shows that hangry workers are bad for business: 43% take longer to complete tasks, 38% report being blunt with colleagues and 25% avoid interacting with their peers,” said Robert Kaskel, VP of people at ezCater, in a statement.
Since ezCater’s business model is based on connecting restaurants with corporations and other work environments, the data supports having those companies offer catered lunches for employees. Of course, office workers are all for it; 75% of today’s hybrid employees say they would work onsite more often if their employer provided lunch.
But hectic workdays are not the only reason restaurants’ lunch business may be on the downslide; 74% of workers say inflation has changed their lunch habits and 17% report intentionally skipping meals to save money. The report states that between groceries and eating out, employees now spend $108.68 a week on work lunches. That’s more than a $20 spike from last year’s $88.41 out-of-pocket costs.
Circana’s 2025 “Eating Patterns in America” report also cited changes in lunchtime habits, with lunch becoming more of a “snackable” occasion. Workers may pick up or bring a collection of snacks to eat throughout the day instead of going for a traditional lunch.
While younger employees are the most likely to skip lunch because of guilt or lack of money, 55% of Gen Zers also rank it as their favorite part of the workday. Together with millennials, they are more likely to say a lunch break makes them feel happier, less burned out, more creative and less frustrated about work.
This year’s ezCater lunch report, based on responses from 1,000 full-time U.S. employees, uncovered the evolving role of lunch breaks in the workplace.
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