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Abstract
[Robert Henning] says more and varied rest breaks should improve productivity and worker well-being. His research is aimed at finding ways to redesign job tasks to improve worker comfort and promote performance. To gather data, Henning and the so-far undisclosed insurer altered a workplace computer system to program breaks into the work days of people who spend most of their time in front of terminals.
"We wanted to piggyback the extra breaks on top of the computer system," Henning said, adding that workers could continue their tasks if they chose to, though they were encouraged to take the time.
Yes, people should be encouraged to take breaks from computer work, she says, but she questions whether the computer should be telling them when to take those breaks.