Motivation in the assembly shop is high. However, the shop manager notices that, although the daily production is above average for the shop, it drops down to a low during the first hour after the lunch break. It is further diagnosed that the operators tend to continue socializing till well after the lunch break.

The shop manager changes the lunch break and staggers it over a two hour period so that the operators cannot go to lunch together. To his surprise, motivation begins to fall, and productivity drops dramatically.

What do you think is the problem? How do you advise the shop manager to fix this problem?