Break rooms are an often overlooked feature of the #workplace that can actually be counterproductive if used improperly. #BreakRooms are intended to encourage a mental and physical break from the daily races of the #office, but there are many other ways you can make your break room an effective establishment in your #workspace other than #lunchBreak spaces, and you’ll see a difference in your employees’ productivity and satisfaction.
Take these features of successful company break rooms as inspiration.
Free coffee. Coffee works as a positive incentive for your workers, functioning as an added perk for the job (pun intended). But keeping a flow of coffee is also beneficial for your company’s long-term productivity. Caffeine increases attention spans, improves focus, and boosts mental energy so your workers can work more and feel rewarded while doing so. Plus, coffee is relatively inexpensive, so it’s a small investment for a potentially large return.
Lunch tables. No break room is complete without an area for your employees to actually take a break. Lunch tables are important for the obvious reasons: they give people space to sit down and eat a meal during their lunch breaks. But they also serve a more important purpose–they create a natural opportunity for your workers to engage with one another. Those conversations can help to solve existing problems facing those workers, or promote interpersonal connections and a greater sense of teamwork.
Differentiation. Don’t make your break room a simple extension of the rest of your office. Do something to make it stand out. For example, you could change the color of the walls or the layout of the room to make the break room feel like it’s a part of a different building. Making this distinction is important because it will allow your workers to fully disconnect from their workspace and decompress. The change in environment will give them a chance to relax and embrace the change in scenery. When they return to work, they’ll start fresh, and productivity will substantially increase. This office space can also serve the purpose of having a more informal room for brainstorming sessions and meetings.
Games. Games are important in the break room for two reasons. First, It helps relieve stress and promotes greater productivity when the employees go back to work. Second, if you offer a multiplayer game like foosball or billiards, it promotes bonding amongst your workers and leads to a stronger team mentality.
Decoration. The break room should be a lively, stimulating place. Don’t keep white walls with a single poster describing workers’ legal rights. Instead, paint the break room a unique color or feature an idiosyncratic pattern. You can also decorate your tables and walls with various items, from motivational posters to community-based bulletin boards. Whatever you do, it’s important to make the break room an interesting place. Otherwise, it will feel like a part of the office, and your workers won’t feel relaxed. Try not to overthink it either–just create an interesting environment that stands out from the rest of the office.
Healthy food options. If you want to go the extra mile, include some healthy food options for your workers. A healthy snack can curb workers’ hunger without a sharp spike in insulin, which can lead to a crash later. This way, workers can settle their hunger and improve their productivity without resulting in a lethargic mid-afternoon droop. Include options like nuts, whole grains, yogurt, and fresh vegetables if you can.
Comfortable seating. Stiff wooden chairs won’t cut it for a successful break room. Comfortable furniture might cost a bit more, but it will also help your workers feel more relaxed and respected. Since your break room is more than just a place to eat lunch, you could even include a couch or two to accommodate workers just looking to relax. Upgrading your furniture may seem like a trivial improvement, but the long-term benefits are significant.
Televisions. Televisions can be extremely valuable in entertaining and informing your employees. A steady stream of relevant information, such as national news, helps your workers feel more involved and get more informed about the happenings of the world outside your office. If you can’t have televisions, newspapers may be a suitable alternative.
Celebrations. Break rooms should be host to regular celebrations throughout your company, depending on how and when you choose to honor your employees. For example, you could celebrate individual employees’ birthdays in the break room, or save it for recognizing departmental achievements. No matter what types of celebrations you include, make your break room a place people associate with positive experiences. It will add to the relaxing, separated atmosphere of the room and improve the break time your employees have on a regular basis.
Requested features. Finally, truly great break rooms have features that have been requested by your employees themselves. There’s no better way to find out what they value than to simply ask them. In your break room, put a comment box that allows employees to submit ideas they have about how to make the break room a better place. Then, incorporate the most valuable suggestions. It will show that you care about their opinions and it will make them happy when you give them what they want (even if it’s something small). If you feel adventurous, you could apply this concept to your entire company.
You don’t have to have the most advanced break room in the world in order to boost productivity and keep your employees happy. However, if you make the effort to create a place where your workers can truly relax and refresh themselves, they’ll reward you with better work and greater satisfaction.
(Source: Inc.com)
