What is a Breakout area?
A breakout area describes any space open for employees or visitors, separate from their usual working area. A breakout space can accommodate various functions such as a place for employees to relax, recharge, take a break, meet with clients, internal meetings and brainstorm ideas.
Why do we need break-out areas?
The average office worker spends a large amount of their day sat at a desk, staring at their screen for long, undisturbed periods of time. A breakout space is increasingly essential to elevate staff morale, increase mental well-being and nurture productivity levels.
Integrating a breakout area in the office gives employees a removed area from their working environment to unwind, which in-turn ultimately boost productivity. A study by economists at the University of Warwick found that employee happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity.
What are the key benefits of a breakout area to your staff and organisation?
Networking
- Sharing Knowledge – Networking is great for sharing ideas and knowledge. Whether it’s asking for feedback or discussing your point of view, it will help you expand your knowledge and allow you to see things from another perspective.
- Increase in confidence – Regularly networking and pushing yourself to talk to people you aren’t familiar with can help to increase confidence. This is an important attribute as a business owner, because your business growth is dependent on talking to new people and making connections.
Taking a break away from your desk
Break laws aren’t just there to ensure employers take it easy on their workers; they are there to benefit employee well-being.
Here are some facts and statistics about the effectiveness of breaks:
- A 30 second micro break can increase your productivity up to 13%
- Taking a 15 second break from staring at your computer screen every ten minutes can reduce your fatigue 50%
- Taking regular breaks of 1.5 minutes increased worker productivity by 6.45%
- Better again – regular breaks of 2 minutes increased worker productivity by 11.15%
- For those who are not able to take regular breaks, the optimum longer-term work time / break ratio is 80 minutes working to 6 minutes break.
Brainstorming
There are many advantages to brainstorming, whether it is analysing the advantages or disadvantages of new premises, deciding on how to split the marketing budget or simply, deciding what to do for a staff party. Brainstorming enables you to cover all bases in a fun and time efficient way. Listed below are some of the advantages of brainstorming-
- Creative thinking is encouraged
- All ideas are more widely accepted
- Everyone is part of the team
- It’s exciting and easy
Here are some great ideas for designing and building your Breakout area!
In conclusion, breakout areas are the way forward. They can be set up in any unused space; have a tidy-up and add some nice furniture and there you are.
For some of the best breakout furniture on the market, please see the link below. These bench solutions can be delivered in a variety of frame and top colours, and if you wish, upholstered within 5 working days!
Tabilo Unite Tables
Table frame (32mm) options
- White
- Lacquered Raw Steel
Table top options
- 38mm White with Ply effect edge
- 38mm Chunky Rustic Oak
- 8mm Wenge
