Which Refreshments Should Your Office Provide?

It’s common courtesy to provide refreshments in your office for employees, but just which drinks and snacks should you be stocking? In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the refreshments that can keep your staff happy, healthy and productive. 

Hydration must-haves

Having access to water is non-negotiable. Dehydration is a huge productivity killer – leading to headaches and fatigue. Rather than relying on tap water, consider installing water dispensers in your office to provide fresh, cold water on demand. This is more eco-friendly than bottled water – especially when paired with reusable cups. 

Coffee cornerstones

Coffee is another essential drink in offices. It’s excellent for sharpening alertness and boosting creativity. Don’t just settle for the instant coffee – providing a quality coffee machine will make each cup of joe more rewarding. You can buy self-serve touchscreen machines that are easy to use and that allow users to choose between various types of coffee from espresso to cappuccino. Just make sure to keep milk, coffee beans and other essentials topped up. It could also be worth training all employees how to maintain and top up the machine so that you’re not having to do it all yourself. 

Healthy snack staples

Snacks will provide additional fuel throughout the day. Try to steer clear of wholly unhealthy options, and consider stocking some fruit, nuts and yogurt. Fruit is a much better sweet snack than cookies and cakes, because it contains natural sugar, which doesn’t spike blood sugar levels as much and doesn’t come with the same sugar crash. The likes of nuts and yogurt are meanwhile packed with protein and are excellent for satisfying hunger between meals. Other options like cereal bars are worth looking into, but do your homework when shopping for these, as some cereal bars are less healthy than others. 

Inclusive touches

You need to consider the unique dietary requirements of your employees in order to make sure everyone is accommodated. Many individuals are lactose-intolerant or vegan, and do not drink regular milk, so think about providing some plant-based milk options. Make sure to also consider allergies – if someone has a serious allergy to peanuts, say not to nuts as an office snack, and check all other snacks do not contain traces of peanuts. 

Treats and rewards

Occasionally, it is acceptable to treat your employees with donuts or other unhealthy foods. These could make a great Monday morning motivator or Friday end-of-the-week reward, but shouldn’t be provided too often, both in order to avoid promoting unhealthy eating habits and to stop them losing their impact as a treat. Cakes are also a thoughtful treat when it is someone’s birthday or someone is leaving/retiring. You should also think about treating employees when you complete big projects or meet big goals – while bonuses or promotions should be awarded to very hard-working individuals, don’t underestimate the instant gratification that celebratory takeout pizza or a glass of champagne has. Food and drink comes at a cost, so keep a budget when it comes to these treats. 

This is a contributed post.