The office kitchen or break room is the heart of any workplace; it’s where staff go to take a break from the grind, catch-up, hydrate, and have their meals. According to a 2023 YouGov study of 1,000 full-time employed Australians (aged 18-65), 77% of respondents either skipped or worked through their full designated lunch breaks during their work week. Health and productivity experts believe this can have a big impact on the overall health and wellbeing of many Australians a sentiment echoed by the study, with 72% of study participants indicating they feel less productive when they don’t take their lunch break.
Skipping lunch can cause fatigue, drowsiness, a shorter attention span, and a slower rate of information processing. Having a well-kept, appealing, and stocked kitchen can encourage employees to take breaks on time to refuel their bodies and refresh their minds to be more productive.
The Australian Institute of Business has formally recognised the value of employee motivation in raising morale and increasing productivity. It emphasised the importance of leaders recognising, appreciating, and rewarding their employees, and what better way to do this than by stocking your office kitchen with a variety of beverages and nutritious snacks for your team?
Here’s how a well-stocked office kitchen can improve your employee’s overall wellbeing and productivity.
Increased Job Satisfaction
Workplace culture and additional ‘perks’ are more likely to be the factors that influence employees’ happiness. Having a well-stocked office kitchen shows that the company is willing to go above and beyond in providing benefits to make employees feel valued and cared for, and access to healthy snacks and treats at work may even increase overall job satisfaction.
Easy Access to Supplies
Having employees that come in and out of the office regularly can be quite disruptive for your business. A well-stocked kitchen can encourage staff to stay in the workplace rather than going out to grab a coffee, tea, or snack.
The 2020 Roy Morgan Single Source survey, conducted by in-depth face-to-face interviews with over 1,000 Australians, revealed that around 90% of adults snack during the day, with over one quarter of respondents classified as “heavy snackers”.
Stocking your office kitchen with healthy, energy-dense foods can not only ensure that your employees have their snacking needs catered too, but can also help them avoid unhealthy snacks packed with sugar, fat and salt.
Improved Productivity
We all know how crucial it is to take micro-breaks away from our workstations. Getting up and moving around reduces muscle aches and pains that can occur from sitting for long periods. A well-stocked kitchen gives employees the option to take a break to grab a snack and regain energy to continue with their daily tasks. By making snacks readily available to your staff, you can help them maintain their productivity while reducing the risk of burnout.
Encourage Healthy Habits
When it comes to a midday meal, employees’ 9-to-5 grind often causes them to prioritise convenience over nutrition. According to “The health of Australia’s workforce”, a 2005 Medibank Private survey, Australian employees with poor diets missed up to nine times as many days from work each year as compared to healthier co-workers.
After 3 p.m., some employees may start feeling tired and sluggish, and dehydration is a main cause of the afternoon slump. To counter this, keeping and nutritional snacks on hand can help to keep employees hydrated, happy, and productive, with absences down. Consider sourcing kitchen supplies from Fairtrade certified firms to help support local businesses and farmers throughout Australia.
Additional Hiring Perks
Snacks have been emphasised as a strategy to entice employees to new organisations, with an increase in millennials joining the workforce and a growing ‘foodie’ culture. Providing free snacks can be a part of a broader initiative to boost a company’s health. Furthermore, a well-stocked kitchen with eco-conscious disposable supplies is an important aspect in retaining employees and keeping the workplace environmentally friendly. Many job seekers opt for offices that are eco-conscious.
