Short Breaks During the Workday and Employee-Related Outcomes. A Diary Study

Abstract

In contemporary, high-speed work settings, ensuring the well-being of employees is of paramount importance. The current study builds on this concern about employee well-being and aims to explore the complex connection between workload (as a job demand), micro-breaks (as behavioral resources), and psychological capital (PsyCap; as a personal resource) to understand their impact on end-of-day well-being. A daily diary approach was employed, where employees provided data from Monday to Friday throughout a workweek. Micro-breaks exhibit significant negative associations with fatigue and positive associations with vigor, suggesting that employees experience reduced fatigue and heightened vigor when engaging in short respites. However, the type of micro-break activities (work-related or non-work-related) yields distinct effects on well-being. Contrary to our expectations, the data did not support the assumption that PsyCap moderates the relationship between workload and well-being. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing the value of micro-breaks in the contemporary work landscape. Employers and organizations can foster more supportive work environments by encouraging the adoption of micro-breaks as a strategy for improving employee well-being.