Description

An office breakroom is a place where employees can relax from work worries. Properly equipped and cozy, it will become an indispensable element of the company.

In Kenya, the Employment Act 2007 governs workplace conditions, including breaks. While it doesn’t specify rigid break times like some countries, it emphasizes reasonable rest periods. The Act mandates a maximum working week and daily working hours, implying breaks are necessary to adhere to these limits. Employers are expected to provide reasonable rest periods during the workday. If your employer consistently denies breaks, you can raise the issue with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The “reasonable” nature of breaks can be subject to interpretation, so clear communication with your employer is crucial. Additionally, collective bargaining agreements may specify break entitlements.

Suppose your company demands the highest level of involvement and effort from its employees. In that case, it must also offer them the greatest comfort and the possibility of disconnecting during breaks and rest periods. There is no room for doubt: having a breakroom is essential.

So how do you organise an office breakroom that fulfils its function of relaxation? It all starts with understanding what an office breakroom is. We’ll tell you all about it below.

How do you design an office breakroom?

Most people spend more than 8 hours a day at work. Constantly being at the computer can lead to rapid fatigue and burnout, so modern companies are actively implementing the “office-home” concept. The essence of this approach is to design the most comfortable workspace for employees with areas where they can relax.

The office breakroom is an area of ​​the workplace, usually adjacent to the kitchen, designed for eating, relaxing, and resting. Unlike a simple dining room, which is only a part of the office breakroom, this space offers a wider range of functions and amenities.

A breakroom design can include a bar for socializing, soft seating furniture for lounging or reading, a play space for recreational activities—a pool table, darts, and other games—and an agora-style common area to encourage interaction.

This type of space is designed to provide a versatile and welcoming environment within the workplace.

Some managers fear that a break room in the office can negatively affect discipline, but this is not true.

A well-designed breakroom helps achieve the following goals:

• Increase staff productivity, as employees get the opportunity to relax a little, relieve stress, and get ready for work.
• Strengthen loyalty to management because employees know that their well-being and comfort are taken care of.
• Stimulate creativity, as a change of scenery helps to generate new creative ideas.
• Conduct prevention of professional burnout of employees.
• Establish contacts within the team, resolve work issues together.
• Conduct meetings and negotiations in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.
• Conduct team building activities and parties.

A break room in an office can be a place for relaxation, but also serve as a kitchen, a meeting area, or even a place to store personal belongings and outerwear.

Before you start designing a staff break room, survey the team and find out the employees’ preferences and wishes regarding the equipment of this space. This will help not only to determine the necessary furniture, but also to take into account the tastes and suggestions of colleagues when choosing a design.

An office breakroom design that seduces workers

The most important thing about an office breakroom is that it makes people want to be there, that workers find this space a place to relax.

Other office spaces are more geared toward maintaining concentration, such as an operational area, or providing privacy, such as a meeting room. But in the case of the breakroom, it should encourage relaxation.

How to achieve this? By following this rule of the four “C”s: Comfort, Convenience, Creativity, and Connection.

Office Breakroom Design for Comfort

Enough space, modern and ergonomic seats, soundproofing of walls, good lighting – preferably natural – are some key factors.

Office Breakroom Design for Convenience

Easy access, good location, and flexible, lightweight furniture that can be moved around. Anything that makes life easier for workers should be incorporated here.

Creativity

The office area must have its essence, which allows it to be differentiated from other rooms and environments. Decorative details, pieces of art, and even unique furniture, such as poufs or a swing, can be incorporated.

Connection

The organization and selection of furniture should facilitate chance encounters, informal chats and socializing among colleagues. Think about it: would your office area be where you see your employees hanging out and chatting?

A much needed office break

The workplace should be used to promote health, according to the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization.

In addition to resting their eyes from the computer, workers should stay hydrated and exercise, from walking to stretching, to make the most of the small breaks necessary every hour.

The office area can be ideal for this type of active break, with a cafeteria or bar area where people can share a standing infusion or a playful environment where they can play for a while.

Office breakroom layout

The best solution would be to design a recreation area in a separate room. It should be located at the maximum distance from the management office. This will provide employees with the necessary privacy, and they will not experience discomfort. Otherwise, the meaning of the recreation room will be lost. In the case of an open office format, it is possible to organize a recreation area near the workplaces to ensure easy access to it.

The ideal breakroom is a room with windows, especially if they offer a beautiful view. Natural light and fresh air promote relaxation and maintain a good physical and emotional state of employees.

A low noise level in the room is also important for a good rest. If there are no windows, live plants or flowers will help maintain the optimal level of humidity and oxygen in the room.

When it is not possible to allocate a separate room in the office for a break room, you can develop a plan and consider the option of organizing it in the work area using partitions, furniture or plants to delimit the space. However, it is important to consider that in noisy offices this method may not allow employees to relax and rest.

There are some general tips and ideas on how a break room in an office should be organized:

Placement closer to coffee

Combining a lounge area with a coffee corner or placing them next to each other has its advantages. It will create a pleasant place to chat with colleagues over a cup of coffee, promoting a more informal atmosphere.

Isolation from the kitchen

If employees prefer to have lunch or snacks at their desk, it is recommended to allocate a separate space for rest. This will prevent the spread of food smells throughout the office and create a more comfortable atmosphere for those who prefer to relax in privacy.

When organizing a kitchen and a recreation area in an office, it is important to consider the differences in furniture requirements. For the kitchen area, it is preferable to choose furniture that is resistant to possible contamination, for example, from fatty foods. It is important that it is easy to maintain cleanliness on your own, without calling professionals for regular cleaning.

Unlike the kitchen, the lounge area is focused on lightness and comfort. Here you can install a water purifier, offer a variety of drinks, tea and coffee, and also provide light snacks such as fruits, nuts, and dry biscuits.

What kind of furniture should be in the office breakroom?

It is worth discussing and planning the design of the office break room in advance to create a harmonious atmosphere. The furniture should provide maximum comfort so that everyone can feel cozy. Therefore, it is worth choosing armchairs, small sofas, soft poufs or bean bags instead of regular chairs.

Having a coffee table can also contribute to the coziness – it will be the perfect place to meet for a cup of coffee or play board games. Additionally, you can arrange a reading area, providing employees with access to magazines and books. You can consider installing a TV, a game console, or a voice assistant such as Alice, so that employees can diversify their leisure time.

When choosing materials for tables and cabinets, it is worth considering their functionality and durability. Chipboard, plastic and glass are the most suitable options, providing durability and ease of maintenance.

A modern trend in the organization of rest rooms includes an innovative solution – sleep capsules, where employees can take a short nap without leaving their workplace.

To create a pleasant atmosphere in the office break room, there should be decorative elements. You can add indoor plants, paintings, stylish lamps, and curtains, place shelves with awards and achievements of the company, and on the walls – photos of the team.

Impact evaluation of an office breakroom design

Analyse employee performance indicators before and after implementing the break room. This can include productivity, job satisfaction, turnover rate, and absenteeism. Improvement in these areas can signal a positive impact of the break room.

Next, it’s useful to gather employee feedback through surveys or interviews. Their comments can provide valuable insight into how they perceive and use the breakroom, its impact on their well-being and morale.

Direct observation of break area usage can also be revealing. Recording the number of employees who use it regularly, the activities they perform there, and the length of their breaks can provide insight into its use and attractiveness.

Finally, analysis of workplace health and safety data can provide insights into the impact of the break area on employees’ mental and physical health. A decrease in workplace accidents related to stress or fatigue can be a positive sign of the effectiveness of the break area.

The importance of putting effort into the design of your office break room

Office design has a significant impact on employee comfort and company productivity.

Why is it important to put effort into break room design in particular? Here are the answers:

This leads to increased productivity and focus

A comfortable break room environment helps employees feel refreshed and ready to return to work efficiently.

This is expected to improve overall productivity and operational efficiency.

Leads to more active communication

Generally, office spaces are divided by department, but break rooms are places where people from different departments can gather.

This means more opportunities for communication between employees across departments, strengthening collaboration across the organization.

Leads to idea generation

New ideas and innovative solutions often emerge from casual conversations in a relaxed environment.

Refreshing and communicating in the break room can help.

Increased employee satisfaction

A comfortable and welcoming break room is a great motivator for employees.

Having a space where you can refresh yourself while still at work will add variety and improve your overall satisfaction.

This will have a positive impact on the way you approach your work and improve your performance.

Leads to corporate branding

A well-designed break room reflects the company’s culture and values, and leaves a professional and sophisticated impression on visiting customers and business partners.

It will strengthen your company’s brand image, build long-term customer trust, and increase brand loyalty.

Positive impact on recruitment activities is expected

An attractive, comfortable breakroom can also aid in recruiting efforts.

A well-designed office can highlight the company’s work environment as being easy to work in, which is an important factor in conveying the company’s appeal to job seekers.

In particular, a comfortable break room is evidence that employees feel comfortable working there and provides an opportunity for them to experience the company’s culture and working style.

Are you looking to design or renovate your rest or collaborative work area?
The easiest way is to turn to an expert who can advise you according to your current and future needs. From design to furniture selection and arrangement, Wallpaper Kenya is ready to support you in your project. Contact us for a personalized quote!