The only way she can guage if the five-minute breaks will increase productivity, is to put it to the test. She is much closer to the situation than anyone on here. How would we know what effect it would have on the workers? I can only speak for myself, and in my opinion, the 15-minute break seems to work best. Five minutes is too short of a break to have any effectiveness on productivity, and could be more distracting than helpful. Actually, I think breaks should last 20 minutes to give the worker a chance to relax and refresh. A worker who is overly-stressed and overworked will produce less than one who has a 20-minute respite in the morning and the afternoon. Well, that's just my opinion based on my own productivity. A rested worker is a better worker. Five minute breaks sound like sweatshop management, if you want to know the truth. Did you perhaps have a typo error? Did you mean 15 rather than 5?