One in four workers hunt for jobs during lunch breaks

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Is the lunch hour over?Rather than tucking into a salad on their lunch break, one in four UK workers are opting to look for a new job, according to new research commissioned by job site reed.co.uk.

This habit is particularly common among younger people, with a third (33 per cent) of those between 22 and 35 admitting to applying for other jobs while at their desk working compared with 22 per cent of respondents overall.

In contrast, older workers are more likely to search for new jobs after work hours, with 58 per cent of over 55s searching on their return home from work.

The discrepancy could be attributed to the methods different generations of workers use to job hunt. Under 35s are significantly more likely to use their phones to search for jobs (43 per cent), compared to over 50s (13 per cent).

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The most common reason behind workers applying for a new job was a salary increase (41per cent), followed by a desire for a fresh start (31 per cent). More than one in four looked to see what’s on the market, and 23 per cent wanted to work for another company.

Mark Rhodes, Marketing Director at reed.co.uk said,

For most of us, our mobiles are never too far from reach, so it’s not surprising that we often turn to our phones to check out new jobs – even at our desks. But if you’re one of those wishing you were somewhere else every day you get into work, it’s probably the right time to move on. Ideally before your boss finds out…

Interested in recruitment and retention?  We recommend the Recruitment and Retention Conference 2019.

Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!

Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.

Aphrodite is also a professional painter.

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