8 Office Break Room Essentials That Successful
Companies Invest In
Worried that break room supplies will
break your budget? Think again.
Many employers overestimate the cost and
underestimate the value of the office break room.
Are you one of them?
You worry about lapses in productivity
and tension among employees over break room maintenance. You wonder what break
room supplies and appliances should be offered, and how often these will need
to be replenished. No client or customer interaction occurs in the break room,
so how is this employee benefit advancing the bottom line?
What you may not realize is that,
despite your company’s carefully arranged formal retreats, luncheons, and team
meetings, more team building happens in break rooms than in cubicles or
conferences. When employees enjoy being on the same team, more home runs are
scored in terms of sales and strategies to help the company grow and thrive.
The best break rooms provide a safe and
comfortable area for communication and relaxation. Coworkers can relax, eat
their lunch, and talk about things unrelated to work. They can blow off steam
and mentally prepare for the next round of meetings or paperwork. They can
recharge for the next part of the business day.
Every successful company knows they need
to make the right investments today if they want the payoff tomorrow. By
choosing the right supplies and appliances for your break room, you can
facilitate an environment that profits your employees and your company!
Read on for eight simple and affordable
break room solutions guaranteed to boost productivity, promote positive
coworker interactions, and provide a space for stress relief and creative
thinking.
1) Free Coffee
What
is the very first thing on your mind when you wake up? For many people, it is
their morning cup of coffee. Most coffee drinkers enjoy having coffee available
throughout the day, and many can’t function without it! Having a rich coffee on
hand helps employees know that you appreciate the work that they do, and that
extra caffeine boost will give them the energy to tackle projects and perform
at their highest potential.
Traditional
grounds are a
must-have, but you can also spice up your coffee options with coffee pods, latte beverage
mixes,
and cold brews. You may want
to provide coffee stirrers, creamer, and sugar along with several coffee roast
selections.
2)
Disposable Cups
A
guest or new employee will almost always want some of the coffee you have on
hand, but they most likely won’t bring their favorite coffee mug from home with
them. While many employees can be expected to bring their own cups or mugs, it
is always good to have disposable cups on hand for hot and cold beverages in
case someone forgets their own or as a courtesy for visitors. While every
company wants to support reusing and recycling, there are times where disposable
cups are a must-have.
3)
Disposable Silverware
Although
watching a supervisor eat a burrito bowl with their hands may be entertaining, disposable
silverware comes in handy when someone forgets their fork or simply wants to
share food with someone else. Promote more team bonding by providing enough
cutlery for everyone to have a slice of cake or homemade casserole. Make sure
you have enough stored up for your next office party too!
4)
Sodas and Snacks
Some
large companies prefer to invest in vending machines, but the low price of wholesale
snacks and beverages makes it easy to keep these items in continuous supply
without the added cost of vending machine maintenance and delivery.
You
may generate enough revenue to provide certain items for free, or you can
provide sodas and snacks on the honor system. Building trust and a sense of
responsibility among your employees in small ways will go a long way toward
engendering trust and respect in all aspects of your business. Buying in large
quantities is a great way to save on costs when purchasing small items for your
break room, and RoundEye Supply is here to meet all of your food and
beverage
needs. Save 10% on your first order by clicking here!
5)
Microwave
While
they may not bring their own mid-day snacks, many employees like to bring their
lunches from home. Unless everyone is eating garden salads and peanut butter
sandwiches, they will need a place to heat up these dishes, and a large
microwave will get the job done quickly and easily.
Make
sure yours is easy to use and is cleaned out on a regular basis. A dirty
microwave can spread office sickness and, quite frankly, isn’t appetizing to
look at. Consider giving someone a small stipend to clean the break room and
the microwave regularly, or you may have a rotating schedule for break room
maintenance.
6)
Refrigerator
Just
as many dishes need to be reheated, many of them also need to be kept cold
until break or lunch time. Even a small fridge for the use of condiments,
beverages, and need-to -refrigerate items will be beneficial for everyone in
the office.
Depending
on the size of your company and the number of people who will be using one
fridge, you may want to invest in a mini-fridge or a regular size fridge. Some
companies like to buy several mini-fridges and divide them among different
parts of the office, while others prefer to have one large central fridge. Decide
what will work best for your office.
7) Cleaning Supplies
The break room should also be home to the supply
closet where employees can find mops, brooms, and other cleaning supplies to
clean and sanitize the area. Providing easy access to these items will help the
room stay clean and inviting.
8)
Comfortable Furniture
Have
you ever been forced to sit through an event in one of those hard metal folding
chairs? If you’re like me, you probably began to experience back problems you
never knew you had!
It’s
hard to focus on the task at hand if you don’t have a comfortable chair at your
desk, and it’s equally as hard to relax and recharge if you are sitting on
uncomfortable furniture in the break room.
Furniture
will make or break any space, and you want employees to enjoy being in your
break room. If the furniture feels comfortable and allows them to rest, they
are more likely to spend time there along with their colleagues during breaks
and lunch times. A
cozy couch or a few pleasantly cushioned chairs will also encourage them to
utilize the break room space for team-building activities or for team lunches
instead of leaving the office. The room will become the employees’ space as
much as it is the company’s, promoting a healthy company culture and an
attitude of respect and responsibility toward the break room and the items in it.
Go
a step further and change up the décor. Put pictures on the wall. Let the
employees paint a mural. Foster a culture of creativity!
What
are you waiting for? Invest in your people and build profits for your company! Even better, sign up and save 10% off your first break room supply order!
Start by
searching for the items on this list or browse our wide selection of food and
beverage
and kitchen supplies. Ask your staff
for suggestions on items they would like to have or for changes and additions
to the break room you already have going. Then start transforming your break
room space! Your employees may surprise you with the amazing ideas they come up
with back at their desks.
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