This is Part 1 of a 3-part Series: Break Rooms as Art.
Can a breakroom actually be a thing of beauty? With an emphatic yes, it is more than possible, it is a non-negotiable. Here is why:
Employees feel they are valued like a Monalisa
While 9 out of 10 executives may think their employees feel cared for, the truth is, only 56% employees believe this to be true. This trend can be reversed with careful consideration of the employee’s needs in a breakroom.
Morale is boosted and corporate culture is improved
Like any art enthusiast will tell you, it’s all about culture. Having a place to go to let off steam, create a sense of community, remove a tense vibe and encourage mental breaks will help employees avoid burnout.
The break room becomes a hub for interaction and collaboration
A creative space will breed creativity and fresh thoughts will brew over fresh coffee. Make a place where the mind can relax and productivity will flow. People will gather and share a meal as well as a great idea.
Employees make more of their break time by staying on-site
As Forbes put it, “Chaining yourself to a desk or scarfing down your lunch in your cubicle isn’t a recipe for success – it’s a recipe for disaster.” We agree! And for those going out to lunch, there is not much of a break when it’s all said and done. Creating a great space to relax and eat allows your employees to enjoy more of their break time in a space that shows they are appreciated.
An impressive meeting space is created for clients and guests
We hear this kind of feedback at garten. “Other locations come to our site and comment in awe about the variety of healthy snacks they see”, said one manager. He mentioned that his team is loving the variety that is offered through garten Kitchen.
In addition to ample choices of high quality, nutritious food, we make sure your break rooms are beautifully stimulating spaces to gather. And then…
Your break room becomes a great selling feature for recruiting new talent
Potential employees would be wise to look for the 3 B’s when assessing a company’s culture and employee value:
Bathroom
How the employee bathroom is maintained says A LOT about how much an employee is valued by the company.
The Boss’ Office
How does it compare to the general workspace? If there is a big difference (windows vs. nothing but fluorescent lights), it is sending a message about whether employees are considered to be important contributors, or just cogs in the wheel.
The Break Room
Does the break room welcome you, inviting you to re-energize and reconnect? Is it well designed, stocked and maintained? Like a good work of art, does it attract and draw you in through all 5 of your senses? In part 2 of this series we will go over what it means to have a “sensible” breakroom, including a tip sheet to help you achieve the break room of your dreams.