Key Points
- Meal Preferences & Traditions – In the Philippines, employees often bring "baon" (home-cooked meals) to work, usually consisting of rice and a viand, while in Australia, takeaway options like sandwiches, salads, and coffee are more common. Filipino lunch breaks are often communal, fostering camaraderie, whereas Australians tend to eat quickly or even at their desks.
- Length & Flexibility of Lunch Breaks – In the Philippines, lunch breaks are typically longer (up to an hour) and may include a short rest period, while in Australia, breaks are often shorter (30-45 minutes) and more flexible, with employees sometimes working through lunch or taking shorter, scattered breaks.
- Social vs. Individual Culture – Filipino workplace culture places a strong emphasis on social bonding during lunch, with colleagues eating together and sharing food. In contrast, Australian work culture leans towards individualism, where lunch is often a solo activity or taken on the go, with coffee breaks serving as the main social interaction.
SBS Filipino interviews Career Consultant Dr. Celia Torres-Villanueva
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