The average employee works 8-12 hours a day. Sometimes, more than that. In those hours they consume at least two meals, multiple snacks, a coffee or tea, and spend some time unwinding from their busy day so they can renew their energy and be more productive.
Though a break room might seem like a small detail for a business, there are some important ideas that a company should take into consideration to keep their hard-working staff physically and mentally healthy.
#1 Offer Nutritional Snacks
Adulthood comes with a lot of rushing around and skipping details in their morning routine to get to work on time. Oftentimes, employees either skip breakfast and experience brain fog, or feast on the vending machine options while counting the hours until lunch.
By offering nutritional snacks and beverages in the break room, employees will not only perform better but feel better throughout their day.
#2 Invest in Ergonomic Seating
Everyone wants to leave the break room feeling comfortable and ready to jump back to their tasks. A wonderful way to build a better breakroom is to offer comfortable, ergonomic, seating. This not only assists the body with relaxation but allows the body to properly rest without compromising the joints and muscles.
#3 Provide Entertainment
The worst thing for an outgoing person is to walk into an empty break room. It often leaves that individual feeling as if that time is wasted or leads them to cut it short due to loss of interest. Breaks are important, and should be taken as often as allowed, for as long as allowed.
A company can encourage this by offering entertainment options such as television, reading material, crossword puzzles, or other small activities that their staff may enjoy.
#4 Create a Relaxed Atmosphere
The opposite goes for those who may want a few moments of peace. A loud and crowded break room might be very deterring and trigger stress. In this case, a great idea would be to offer a quiet area. These areas often include comfortable seating, soothing essential oils, and soft, home-like décor.
#5 Incorporate a Personal Touch
Break rooms are more appreciated and enjoyed by staff if they hold sentimental value. After staring at documents throughout the office, the last thing an employee wants to see is a break room that is filled with walls of policies and procedures.
Make the break room a welcoming and home-like environment by including personal touches like pictures from the company picnic or a bulletin board that your employees can customize with personal photos or other tidbits.
The most important detail when considering break room ideas is to be attentive to the needs of your employees. By doing this, you will have happy, productive, and motivated employees that respect their workplace.