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Whether it’s that first meeting of the day or a fix for the 3 o’clock energy slump, coffee breaks are a popular part of the daily routine in Australia and throughout the world. More than just a distraction from the hard slog, coffee in the workplace can also increase productivity and morale.
Many studies have found that taking brief breaks from a task can dramatically improve a person’s ability to concentrate. Fortunately for coffee lovers, coffee breaks offer such a diversion.
In a busy environment, workers cherish the moments they get to step away and take a breath. By allowing employees to have brief breaks from their work schedule, coffee breaks contribute to employee happiness, their ability to manage heavy workloads and decreases burnouts.
But it’s not just about the break. Coffee itself has health benefits that will reduce their stress. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that four or more cups of coffee during the course of a day reduces the likelihood of depression by 10%.
The antioxidants in coffee also offers resistance to diseases. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that drinking four to five cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of Parkinson’s’ disease by almost 50%. Coffee has also been shown to reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes.
For the office worker that spends their day in front of a screen, talking to troublesome clients or seated at a desk, the coffee break gives them a chance to socialise and stretch their legs.
By having good quality coffee available in the workplace, you encourage co-workers to sit down together and socialise. In Sweden this is known as “Fika”, and is common practice for building social opportunities at work, which doubles as a low-cost, minimal effort, team building exercise. Providing a space and situation in which employees can mingle and get to know each other better strengthens their bond which ultimately improves the team dynamic.
Employees that sit still for hours at a time are at a high risk of developing unhealthy habits. These habits can easily lead to low morale, among other problems. Grabbing a cuppa allows a worker to get up and stretch their legs every so often. Just that short walk between desk and the tea room prevents leg muscle stiffness and pain.
The time that employees may spend each day leaving the building to buy a coffee, or three, can really add up. By the time they’ve taken the lift downstairs and made it to the front of the queue, they could have ticked off a handful of tasks at their desk.
Having a quality coffee machine on-site encourages employees to stay in the building, maximising productivity. If investing in a new coffee machine seems like a daunting task, you could consider a Coffee Machine Program.
A study at John Hopkins University has shown that low doses of caffeine increases attention and focus. Caffeine blocks the chemical in your brain that causes sleepiness. In effect, caffeine will make your brain think it isn’t sleepy and help you stay alert and more focused on the tasks at hand. This becomes crucial for night workers. Compared to taking naps, caffeine significantly reduces the errors made by night staff.
As well as focus, coffee has been found to increase memory retention. Being able to recall the details of the previous day’s meeting or the tasks they need to complete that day, means an employee stays on top of their workload. A sharper memory also allows workers to make better decisions.
Depending how the brew is drunk and what employee tolerance levels are, different amounts will affect them differently. 200mg of caffeine is recommended for an increase in attention, whereas 400mg is the amount you need for the health benefits to kick in. This amount, roughly four cups, is considered to be ‘safe’. However, that is if it is drunk black. If adding flavours, sugar or sweeteners, less is recommended.
If an employee exceeds their body’s tolerance for caffeine, they will experience a jittery feeling. Caffeine also has addictive qualities and high doses increase the risk of anxiety, high blood pressure and headaches.
Having said this, the act of taking a break is still extremely beneficial. Consider offering alternatives so that an employee can drink coffee in moderation but still has the opportunity to stretch their legs.
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