We ask a lot of our employees, with some late working days and intense hours. There are many little things that can be done to keep up morale at the office and show that you appreciate the hard work that they are doing. One of the best ways is to set up a break room that offers up a true break from the office atmosphere.
Namely, a break room that looks and feels more like a cafè. When you have a break room that has coffee machines, some prepared foods and snacks, and is very comfortable, then you help your employees save money by not needing to go out for lunch and snacks.
Here are some ideas on how to set up a next-generation break room.
Start with the Coffee Machine
Everybody appreciates a pick-me-up in the form of a coffee. Yet, there is nothing more depressing than the sight of a pot of coffee that has been sitting on a burner for hours. Everybody knows it is going to be bitter. Yet, who has the time to make sure that there is always fresh coffee ready to go?
Instead of using a drip coffee machine, try an espresso machine instead. There is no waste this way and you get a burst of rich, intense espresso that can be a nice departure from the typical bitter drip coffee.
With so many affordable espresso machines available now, you can outfit the break room cheaply and show your employees that you actually care about them enjoying their daily dose of caffeine.
Stock it with Food
I don’t mean have a rack with chips and crackers. I mean actual food. Set up a counter with a glass case like you would find in many coffee shops. Have a caterer stock it with ready-made sandwiches, yogurt snacks, and salads.
Your employees will feel like they have left the office and wandered over to their favorite cafè. They can always count on some good food to keep them fed for plenty of energy to keep going.
Having fresh food will encourage your employees to take advantage of their coffee break and actually stop working for a bit to give their minds a break.
Make it Cozy
Give them a place that is comfortable enough to want to hang out there to enjoy their coffee and sandwich instead of running right back to their desks.
Eating lunch or a snack at their desk is actually not great for productivity. You can make it a policy to not eat at their desks, but making a comfortable break room is definitely a much better way to get your employees away from their desk.
Give them plenty of seating with actual comfortable chairs and tables where they can put a plate or cup of coffee.
Summary
Listen to your employees and take on their feedback when you ask them what they want to see in a break room. You’re making it for them after all.
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