Month: February 2021

Is your Louisville break room an inviting space that your employees look forward to visiting? Does it offer a wide selection of snacks, drinks, and fresh food? If the answer is no to either of those questions, the following are four things to consider before making big changes.

What are your break room goals?

Maybe you want to encourage your employees to stay on-site during breaks and meal times or offer more better-for-you options. Or maybe, you’d like to provide a great coffee service with gourmet coffees and teas. Knowing your goals ahead of time will help guide the decision making process.

How much space do you have available?

The answer to this question will likely dictate what types of services you can offer. For example, a smaller room with some seating probably wouldn’t work with a large micro-market and accompanying coffee service. In that space, a small micro-market or several vending machines might be the best fit.

Does your break room menu meet your employees’ needs?

The answer to this question shouldn’t only be about specific brands or types of snacks and drinks. It’s also important to think about why your Louisville employee would visit the break room. The following are two scenarios that might change the answer.

1. Business A is open during traditional working hours. Unfortunately, it’s located ~20 minutes away from any refreshment options. Making a 40 minute round trip will likely cause a drop in productivity. A break room with wraps, salads, and sandwiches would keep most employees on-site and working more.
2. Business B has employees that work shifts other than the traditional 9-5. A third shift employee who needs a bite to eat may have a hard time finding an open “lunch” option at 1:00 am. A break room with fresh food options will remove any concern about finding an open alternative.

Have you considered subsidizing part or all of the cost for your employees?

Believe it or not, the cost for a Louisville employer to pay all or part of the costs for products in vending machines or in a micro-market is lower than the value employees place on the benefit. The overall cost for this benefit is also lower than many other employee benefits.

Maybe you’d prefer to subsidize only healthy products to encourage employees to make healthier choices. Since price is often a barrier to choosing healthy, employees may be more likely to buy that better-for-you item when it costs them less.

Now that you’re armed with more information, it’s time to take the next step. Total Vend is here to help. We offer a wide range of vending services and can help turn your break room into a space everyone wants to visit. For more information, please contact us at 502.451.0111.

Great-tasting food, cold drinks, and coffee are a must in any break room. But, did you know that there are several other things that every Louisville break room should have?

Adding some or all of the following categories can turn a bare-bones space into a break room that your employees will want to visit daily. 

The Not-so-Extra Extras

Paper Products

Basic supplies such as napkins, paper towels, eating utensils, and plates, bowls, and cups should be offered and easy to find. After visiting the micro-market for lunch or the vending machine for an afternoon snack, employees shouldn’t have to go on a hunt to find a fork or knife or a napkin.

More Break Room Flavor

Almost everyone adds some type of additional seasoning to their food. For snacks or meals, that often means salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, mayo, or hot sauce. The key is to offer the condiments that go best with your break room’s menu.

Coffee Station

Unless your Louisville employees only drink their coffee black, a variety of coffee additions should be available. Common options include sugar, artificial sweeteners, alternative sweeteners like honey, creamer and non-dairy creamer options, and flavorings. Paper products such as stir sticks, cups, lids, and coffee sleeves will make sure everyone has what they need.

The Break Room Space

A break room should not only be a separate space from the rest of the workplace, but it should also feel different. Let’s look at two important components.

Seating

Offer multiple types of seating that encourage conversation, a coffee or meal break, or a few minutes of relaxation. That might include different areas with sofas, tables and chairs, booths or even a rocking chair or two. And don’t forget to offer easily accessible outlets or charging stations.

Break Room Décor

Lack of color or bland colors have been shown to make people feel sad or gloomy, and that is especially true at work where access to the outdoors can be limited. Yellows evoke friendliness and cheer while blues and greens create a sense of peace and tranquility. One word of caution; before running to the paint store, remember that colors affect people differently.

To make your break room more appealing and relaxing, add natural lighting and décor such as plants, wood, or water. Plants are especially functional as they help clean the office air too.

Small additions or changes in your Louisville break room can make a big difference. But you don’t have to do it alone. We can help. For more information about our vending services or to update your current space or menu, please call Total Vend at 502.451.0111.