At home, the kitchen is usually where social interactions take place. It is where you talk about your day with your family, and where you invite your visitors over for a chat. 

In the office, there’s also the need for the employees to form connections. And if the kitchen is the place for social interactions at home, its equivalent in the workplace is the lunchroom.

What Is A Lunchroom?

A lunchroom is a place in an office or a school where people can buy and eat their lunch. Sounds simple, right? But a lunchroom in the office is more than that.

Many businesses and companies pay attention to making sure their offices have great amenities. There are offices with a gym, spa, daycare center, garden, and more. However, a lot of companies tend to overlook improving their lunchrooms to focus on other amenities.

A lunchroom may be a common feature for every company. But it offers a lot more benefits than just a place to eat your lunch. 

What Are The Benefits Of A Lunchroom In The Office?

1. The lunchroom can establish the company’s identity. You can customise the lunchroom in line with your company’s branding and vision. The office cafeteria is where employees often chill and look around because they’re not thinking about work. Hence, you can reinforce your company’s culture by customising your lunchroom.
   If you want a lunchroom that you can move around, you can consider portable lunchrooms. Portable buildings are growing in popularity in Australia. They are available in various sizes, qualities, materials, and shapes.
   
2. A well-built and designed lunchroom motivates employees. It shows them that the company they are working for cares for their well-being. In turn, this can establish a healthy working environment with greater productivity because the employees are motivated to work. 
   
3. You can build networks and connections with your colleagues in the lunchroom. Pantries in the workplace are often designed to have tables with multiple seaters. While some people may prefer eating alone, many employees like to spend their lunch breaks with their colleagues to talk about casual, non-work related things. The lunchroom is also the opportunity to get to know people you don’t know yet and build rapport with them.
   
4. The lunchroom can provide comfort to the employees. Many people were used to working from home during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. But when the time has come for them to back onsite, the lunchroom’s comfortable environment can be their second home. You can set up the lunchroom with a television, bean chairs, sofa, and plant decorations to make the employees feel at home.
   
5. Having a lunchroom is a convenience for employees. Just imagine- if your office does not have a pantry, you would allot time going out looking for where to eat, ordering your food, eating, then returning to work. Doing this every day means they are always in a rush to eat their lunch and return to the office. 
   
6. Employees can refresh and relax their minds in the lunchroom. Other than spending one hour break to eat lunch, most employees spend time in the lunchroom to take their minds off of work for a while. Taking breaks during the shift is proven to help employees be more productive. Spending too much time in your workstation can overload your brain with too much information and can decrease your productivity. It’s almost similar to when writers experience writer’s block. A few minutes in the lunchroom is enough breather to get you going throughout the day. 
   
7. In connection with refreshing the mind, spending time with your colleagues in the lunchroom can enable you to brainstorm and collaborate about projects, new ideas, and other discussions about work. A lot of creative and smart ideas can come flying about when your mind is relaxed and not preoccupied. The lunchroom can also serve as an alternative meeting space for informal meetings. 

Important Things A Lunchroom In The Office Must Have

There are a lot of changes in work and other aspects of our lives since the pandemic. But what didn’t change is people’s constant need for interactions in the workplace. No man is an island, after all. That is why the lunchroom is one of the most essential amenities in the office. Here are the important things a lunchroom in the office must have.

Coffee Machine For Free Coffee For Everyone

Most employees, if not all, would need to start their day with a coffee. Having a free coffee in the office is a good way to start their day!

Microwave Oven And Other Basic Kitchen Equipment

The employees need to feel at home in the lunchroom. Make sure the lunchroom has the basic equipment like a microwave oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, water dispenser, and the like. 

Entertainment and Decoration

Adding plants as a decoration in your lunchroom will surely bring it to life. A television or soothing music may also brighten up their mood.

Standing Tables

Some employees may prefer standing up in the lunchroom due to spending too much time sitting in the office. 

Final Thoughts: The Importance And Benefits Of A Lunchroom In The Office

The lunchroom in the office is the equivalent of the kitchen at home. It is where social interactions happen, and rapport is built. People also form connections in their workstations, but it’s not the same in the lunchroom because, in their workstations, they would usually talk only about work-related matters. Not only that, a lunchroom can help boost employees’ productivity and motivation to work.

Do you need portable lunchrooms in your office? We can help you at Stunning Tiny Homes and Modulars. Our dedicated team will help you in getting the design that you want.