More workers eat in staff canteen

British workers are twice as likely to use their staff canteen today than they were two years ago, according to a report published this week.

The ninth edition of the Eurest Lunchtime Report 2002, finds that lunchtime spending at work has dropped for the first time in 12 years, with more than half the workforce spending less than £2 and a quarter under £1.

It attributes this fall to the impact of job uncertainty and increased work pressures. It finds that because workers are spending less money than they used to, fewer are choosing to eat at high street restaurants and more are using their staff restaurants.

According to the report, 35% use their staff restaurant four or five times a week, compared with just 16% in 2000. It also finds that the average lunch "hour" has dropped by nine minutes to a record low of 27 minutes.

Frank Whittaker, Eurest sales and marketing director, said: "For the first time in more than a decade we are seeing people returning to the staff restaurant for their midday meal.

"British workers are finding that it's better value, faster and more convenient to eat in than to eat out."