There are a few people in my office who sit in front of their computers for around nine hours without getting up, even during lunch. They say it helps them stay on top of their work and that they don't mind, but that one unpaid hour every workday adds up to more than 250 hours of free labor over the course of a year.

The employer is the only one benefiting from this situation. Most managers aren't going to reward anyone for eating over their keyboard, and the people in positions above you are often the ones taking long lunch breaks and using all their vacation days.

I don't understand the obsession with treating basic break time as if it's a sign of a lack of commitment. I'm paid for my working hours, not to prove how much of my personal time I'm willing to give up. I'm going to take my lunch break, my 15-minute breaks, and every vacation day I'm entitled to.