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Offering coffee to office workers can help boost morale and a sense of togetherness.I It can also encourage employees to stay in-house during breaks instead of seeking snacks elsewhere. If your employees look to you for their coffee fix, they can see this as an additional job perk. This perception may be well worth the minor cost per year associated with offering in-office coffee and supplies to employees.
Deciding if office coffee is a good choice for your business is a matter of determining the impact the beverage station will have on employee morale and the cost to keep the area supplied. Researching the costs, benefits and pitfalls of offering in-office coffee will help employers make an informed decision about creating an office beverage station.
Benefits
Meeting Expectations
Office environments benefit the most from available coffee, as employees generally come in early, leave late and remain seated throughout most of the day. The National Coffee Association has released statistics indicating that 54% of the adult population within the United States drinks coffee on a daily basis. Because of this staggering percentile, it is safe to conclude that coffee drinking within the office environment is included within those figures. Coffee is a part of most adult’s daily lives, and coffee is generally expected to be available within an office space. Those that do not offer coffee create an added expense for their employees.
Increases Productivity
As employees within an office environment tend to be sitting most of their day, coffee provides an opportunity to stretch their legs and have a break. These moments away from the desk can actually increase productivity in the long run. If employees are bored or tired, they will tend to lag in their work. Coffee also has caffeine, a natural stimulant that can increase productivity. It will push employees to work faster with a higher attention span.
Positive Employee Environment
Coffee breaks are one of the best ways for coworkers to meet, socialize and relax during a stressful work day. The added socialization can increase office morale and create a more comfortable work environment. Having positive and unified employees can increase collaboration between departments and create better team building. It also increases the chances that your employees will stay for longer periods of time, creating a further savings in potential trainees and new hires. If the office does not include coffee, employees will need to leave the office building. This will deplete the available time to socialize with their coworkers and increase their daily living cost.
Services Provide Convenience
Rather than having a designated coffee maker in the morning, or handling a rotating calendar, office services are available. Conveniently providing coffee, tea, hot chocolate packets and coffee equipment, there is no need to worry about when to shop or if you will run out. Whether in a small break room or in a large break room, coffee services take all of the hassle associated. The service generally costs between 60 to 100 dollars per employee each calendar year.
Pitfalls
Responsibility
One of the biggest drawbacks of having office coffee supplies is that someone has to be responsible for making the coffee each day. This is an added task for employees, and it may end up being ignored. Although some people will want coffee, they may not want to take the time to make it. You may have to create a schedule to ensure someone makes a new pot each day. At the end of the day, the pot and surrounding area must be cleaned for the next day’s service.
Cost
By providing your whole office with coffee on a daily basis, you are adding an expense to your daily operations. This can become a problem if you are a small office that is working under a tight budget. You may also have to purchase more than one type of coffee, such as regular and decaf, in order to serve everyone who drinks it. Serving multiple types requires the purchase and maintenance of additional pots. Depending on the brands you choose, coffee and equipment can also be expensive. Other costs to consider include creamers, sugar, filters, cups and napkins, some of which may go to waste.
Equipment Maintenance
Properly working equipment is important to the safety of your employees. Coffee pots and machines should be checked regularly for cracks and leaks. The water filter should also be changed regularly for optimal taste. If you do not maintain the equipment, the machine could stop working and require costly repairs. If you rent equipment and it becomes damaged, you run the risk of paying for something that you can no longer use.
Productivity
Supplying office coffee machines can be counterproductive if individuals spend their time chatting around the coffee machine. It can also hurt productivity if employees are stopping work frequently to go refill their cups.
Pricing
A company who uses an office coffee service will spend between $60 and $100 per employee per year, according to Robert Hill at Business.com. This can be a substantial savings over supplying coffee for your office.
The Cost of Coffee
A pound of coffee makes approximately 40 cups of coffee and costs around $8, as of 2011. If you have an office with five employees and they all drink three cups of coffee per day, they will consume 5,475 cups per year. If a pound of coffee makes 40 cups, your office will go through almost 137 pounds of coffee. At $8 per pound, this is a cost of $1,096 per year. If you pay a coffee service $300 to $500 per year for the same amount of coffee, you will save a substantial amount of money.
Other Price Considerations
An office coffee service will also provide filters, creamer, sugar, and often a coffee machine. Since everything supplied by the coffee company is portion controlled through single serving packets, your company cuts down on waste and saves money.
Conclusion
Offering a coffee station can promote a feeling of camaraderie and friendship in the office in most cases. Having coffee available on demand can keep employees from having to run out during break times.I It can also save both money and prevent waste. If a company is trying to become more green, having an office coffee spot can help reduce waste, provided employees bring in their own mugs from home.
While there are plenty of benefits of offering office coffee, there are some drawbacks as well. Employees may linger in the coffee area during working hours, reducing their performance and productivity. The cost of office coffee may be larger than expected, particularly if an outside company is engaged to manage the area.
Providing office coffee to your employees is a standard business practice that keeps employees alert, productive and happy. It also cuts back on extra time spent on coffee runs and can improve employee morale. Businesses that see on-site customers, such as car dealerships, shops and doctor's offices can also provide complimentary coffee to their clientele.
There are tons of different types of coffee available for order. Deeper discounts are often provided for bulk orders, so once you have brand that you like, it is best to place a large order. Beans can be stored for longer than ground coffee. If you purchase beans, be sure to also buy a grinder. If your staff or customers go through coffee quickly, it is wise to place a bulk order with a retailer or even wholesaler. You may also consider offering a variety of gourmet flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate and seasonal varieties, as well as the regular decaf and caffeinated coffees. To save more money on shipping, place your coffee accessory order with your coffee order. Necessary items will include cups, stirrers, creamer and sugars.
Business.com can help your business save money by helping you find a great bulk retailer for your office coffee order. Please click on the links on the left to find out more.
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