The breakroom, or lunchroom as it is also called, is an important part of the daily workplace. It’s a place where your employees can take a mental and physical break from the rigors of the daily grind. There are ways to update your breakroom too without a lot of expense and still make it a place where your employees will enjoy being together. Even something as simple as new stools can be a plus.
Some other ideas for upgrades
There are some essentials that breakrooms should have. These will add to your employees’ productivity as well because happy employees are working employees. Some examples are given below:
Location: It important where the breakroom is located, perhaps in a central location that all employees can access. It should be located in an area that customers don’t have access to also though. It should additionally be large enough for groups of employees to sit down in and not be just a couple chairs around a wobbly table shoved in a corner. In addition, if you make the breakroom large enough and inviting, then employees will then stop having their lunches at their desks and take much-needed breaks in the lunchroom which will improve productivity.
Coffee/tea which is free
Everyone needs a break to drink a cup of caffeine. It’s even tastier when it doesn’t come out of a machine; and it’s free. So, have a coffee and hot water machine in your lunchroom for coffee and tea. Also, make the extras available such as cream, sugar; cups and stirrers. In addition, caffeine in the right amount will help employees improve their focus and give a boost to mental efficiency. Coffee and tea aren’t expensive investments to keep employees happy either.
Another idea is to have a voluntary employee sign-up sheet where employees can bring refreshments for everyone to enjoy besides what you supply. This could be cookies or light snacks. It encourages socialization and camaraderie.
Tables for lunch
Lunch tables and something to sit on go hand in hand. What is the purpose of a breakroom if your employees can’t sit down? Not only can they eat meals and relax then, but mingle with their co-workers here, and this helps with employee relations and builds a better sense of teamwork.
Make it different
Where your employees take breaks, make it at different from the rest of the building. Paint the walls a relaxing color and add some plants; if there are windows, open the blinds. It will let them disconnect from the area where they work and decompress, coming back to their desks with a fresh outlook.
Decorate it
This goes hand in hand with making it different. So along with painting the walls a different color than the offices, you could decorate the tables too. Use silk flower arrangements in baskets or single flowers in vases. Have magazines on the table for flipping through at lunchtime. You can additionally put colorful posters on the walls and a community bulletin board for announcements and upcoming events. Just create an environment which is distinct from the workspace. You could supply mugs though with your company’s logo on it to enhance the company’s culture.
Supply healthy food options
There are vending machines that provide healthy food options such as nuts and even yogurt. Just be sure that the vending company keeps everything fresh. If you want to, you can even supply a basket of fresh fruit or veggies. It will keep the employees from having their afternoon blood sugar drop too where everyone starts yawning.
Comfortable seats
Taking a break on a chair which is hard and unyielding won’t make anyone feel relaxed. Yes, comfortable chairs might be a little expensive, but the results will add to the productivity you want in the office if employees can take breaks where they aren’t under the same kind of body strain that they have at their desks even with the best office furniture. You could even add a couch to the breakroom for people who just want to unwind but not eat. The benefits could be more than you anticipate. Also, lighting is important too. The lighting should accent the room but not put everyone in a spotlight, or be so dim that employees get sleepy.
The breakroom is the place for your employees to enjoy, so making it comfortable and inviting is important.
References:
https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product/gosit-new-stack-stool-black/
https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product/gosit-new-stack-chair-black-2/
The heavy duty folding table can also be used in the breakroom or lunchroom. This is especially handy if the room is used for another event later in the day which won’t be using tables. The tables can be broken down and stacked neatly against the wall until needed again.
The 
To create a breakroom which meets the above requirements, you can do different things. Choosing a paint for the walls that’s relaxing and having comfortable seating with tables and chairs are two things that you can do. If you have a enough space, creating a few separate spaces for employees who like to relax by themselves or gather their thoughts can be a morale booster.
In addition to all of this, if your breakroom is large enough it can be a great place for celebrations and parties as well. Birthday celebrations, promotions or even a spread to celebrate the success of a completed project can be enjoyed by all in the breakroom. Also, there should be a maintenance schedule for the breakroom and for the appliances in it to be cleaned either by employees or maintenance.
Other options for freebees could include healthy food being offered. It would be considered an extra by your employees, but the benefit to you is avoiding the afternoon slump of employees. So, with healthy snacks such as vegetables, nuts, yogurt and whole grains; this can curb employee hunger without them having sugar crashes. This will increase productivity.