Break rooms are more than just a charitable service offered to staff. They are one of your office’s most important designed spaces, an opportunity for staff to recharge and maintain their best potential throughout the workday. As you well know, a staff member that regularly reaches their potential can also equal a business that regularly reaches its potential.

So, how do you measure the success of your break room and how will it benefit your working environment? Continue reading to learn the break room essentials!

Benefits of a great break room

Most savvy business owners know that happy workers are productive workers. Break rooms are a tried-and-true method of boosting staff morale, which reflects positively on the success of the business. Here are some of the tangible benefits of an effective break room.

• Greater productivity – It may seem counterintuitive that workers spending more time in the idle confines of a break room would produce greater output. However, studies have reinforced this position time and time again. Employees who can step away from their work for a moment and recharge often enjoy more energy and focus for more of the workday.
• More open communication – Break rooms are more than just a space to unwind. They also bring workers together, acting as a convergence point where workers from different departments can learn more about each other. Even in open plan offices, these strengthened interpersonal relationships often manifest in the office through heightened collaboration and teamwork, thus improving the overall quality and efficiency of the company.
• Improved health and wellbeing – Allowing staff to step away from the stress and rigour of their work has a measurable effect on health and wellbeing. Workers who can relax often take fewer sick days. That means fewer disruptions at work and fewer staff-related expenses.
• Less employee burnout and turnover – Workers that feel relaxed and supported are far more likely to remain in their position. Higher retention in your office reduces overhead recruitment costs and improves your business’s relationship with clients. Familiar faces build trust among clients and benefit your reputation.
• More competitive recruiting – In order for your business to be the best, you need to attract the best talent. When potential recruits are offered competitive wages, benefits, and titles from several different prospective employers, it could well be the little details that set you apart. Consider your break room one of the more effective recruiting tools in your office space.