Are you getting maximum value out of your office’s break space? This part of the building is often overlooked, as it may be home to little more than a few tables, some chairs, maybe your office coffee service, and a fridge.
Getting more out of your break space is a meaningful upgrade to the office as a whole and may have far-reaching impacts that go beyond what you would expect. For more information on how to overhaul your break space in a way that will be noticed by everyone in the office, check in with InReach today.
Seeing a break space as nothing more than an area where snacks and drinks can be purchased from a vending machine would be largely missing the point. That might be the superficial purpose of such areas in your office, but the more important value here is the opportunity for people to connect.
Studies have consistently shown that organic interaction between colleagues is not only enjoyable but also valuable to the organization. For example, one MIT study from 2009 indicated that productivity could be boosted by 10% to 15% simply by enabling coworker interaction. Break areas prove to be a hotspot for this kind of collaboration, and as such, have the potential to drive your business forward in a meaningful way.
When institutions like MIT study the value of people connecting, you can be sure that the business world is listening. Toward that end, a pattern of increased collaboration is emerging, with research by Harris Interactive finding that roughly half of all businesses are actively considering reallocating space for improved collaboration—and the boost in productivity that comes with it.
In an office that has previously been walled off and isolated, providing an office break room for collaboration can feel like a breath of fresh air. Workers in your building likely interact daily with those in their own group or department, but they may rarely stray beyond that area. When you add welcoming, inviting break spaces where they will want to spend time, it’s inevitable that the team as a whole will start to mix together, and exciting results could be right around the corner.
It’s essential to create customized and scalable spaces that maximize each square foot of the office that you are going to dedicate to this initiative. Working with InReach is a great choice because we firmly embrace the custom side of the project; we want the space that is created to be unique to your business and to properly serve the people in your building. From vending machines and micro markets to office coffee services, water service, snack boxes, and more, we offer everything necessary to deliver an outstanding experience for your people.
You may not have a ton of time to spend thinking about upgrading your break space, but InReach is ready to serve you. We’ll help you understand the options available, evaluate what is likely to work best for your needs, and bring the vision to life right away. Let’s get started!
We know one size never fits all — flexibility begins and ends with customization. We're ready to partner with you to create the perfect customized experience for your, and your people's, needs.