Work breaks in the age of flexible spaces: myth or necessity?

"A little coffee Caro? "Yes, this phrase is part of everyday life for many French people, because, let's face it, taking a break at work is a right - an inalienable right ???? - for employees. In the past, this was done around the coffee machine or in a dedicated break room. Today, it's reinvented through the use of flexible workspaces - open, modular and hybrid environments that are shaping new working practices. But does this flexible organization really encourage moments of disconnection, or does it run the risk of gradually erasing these precious parentheses of respite? Taking a break at work is becoming a crucial issue.

Pause and productivity: an inseparable duo

This subtitle is only there to grab your attention. Let's get back to basics and clarify that the break at work is part of working time. By law, all adult employees are entitled to a 20-minute break after 6 consecutive hours of work. However, collective bargaining agreements may stipulate more favorable conditions.
A break at work is much more than a simple rest period. According to a study conducted by Stanford University, taking breaks helps maintain optimum productivity, and even boosts it significantly (+15%).
Groupe Aésio also reveals that regular breaks help maintain optimal concentration levels and reduce mental fatigue, with 81% of Generation Z employees saying they are more productive after a lunch break.
In other words, taking a break is a performance-enhancing factor, all the more essential in work environments where the boundary between professional and personal life is becoming increasingly blurred.

Flexible spaces: the new organizational order

The rise of telecommuting, flexoffice and coworking spaces has profoundly altered traditional benchmarks. Breaks now come in a variety of forms, adapted to individual needs:

• Nomadic microbreaks: a cup of coffee at the counter of a coworking space, similar to the practices observed in Wojo's offices, where convivial spaces are specially designed to encourage informal exchanges.
• Digital disconnection: a few minutes without a screen, as recommended by ergonomists to limit visual fatigue linked to intensive use of digital tools.
• Collaborative breaks: spontaneous exchanges in a redesigned open space, inspired by Google's "huddle rooms", where creativity and relaxation go hand in hand.

These new practices help to humanize an often dematerialized daily routine, by creating opportunities for interaction and cooperation. However, they also raise major challenges.

The challenges of the flexible break

Flexibility offers greater organizational freedom, but also means rethinking the way break times are managed. It is no longer a reflex, and even the lunch break is on the decline in France.
Companies therefore need to set up appropriate systems. This involves, for example, creating "decompression zones" and encouraging managers to set an example. The model applied at Microsoft France, with collective break slots and reminders integrated into digital diaries, or the "Dej' sportive" breaks introduced by the City of Paris are inspiring cases in point.

Towards a new balance between flexibility and well-being

Taking a break in a flexible workspace is not a myth, but a reality in the throes of change. It does, however, require careful thought and a proactive approach. Encouraging these breathing moments not only improves employees' mental health, but also strengthens team cohesion and overall performance.

In the age of flexibility, taking a break remains a necessity. Its effectiveness depends on the ability of organizations to create environments conducive to these moments of disconnection, and to value their importance within the corporate culture.

So, far from disappearing, the work break is being reinvented. It is becoming a strategic time-space, essential to the sustainability of collective dynamics and quality of life at work.