Take a Break, Safely! – What to Consider when Planning a Safe Break Area

The break room has transformed from a place to connect and celebrate the successes of your team to a space with limited occupancy and a variety of sanitizing stations. SKG understands the struggle of managing shared spaces during this time. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when transitioning the break room into a safe collaborative area for your team.

Function

• How will the space be used?
  • Will it be used differently at different times of day? For day-to-day dining? For events? For classes? For presentations? Will there be a lounge area?
  • What is the group size for each of these functions?

Furniture

• Tables
  • What types of tables will you have in this space?
    • Heights – Banquette seating? Counters? Booths?
    • Shape – Round tables are soft, while square tables can be pushed together to make larger groupings.
    • Bases – Check with facilities to determine which they prefer to keep floors spotless and free of crumbs.
  • Will you need accessible friendly solutions?

• Chairs
  • What types of chairs do you use in this space?
    • Confirm the seat height with the table or millwork top height. This is an often-overlooked matter which can lead to unused stools. Also, consider knee space for your occupants.
  • Storage
    • Will furniture be stored when not being used?
    • Will you need additional storage for accessories, table wear, and event décor?

• Power
  • Allow your occupants to have easy access to charging stations.
  • This can include table top power, wall outlets, and undermounted power considering the need of each product and space.

Final considerations

• At times, this room should feel like an actual break from work. Think about fun yet relaxing paint colors and art for the walls. Encourage your team to pitch in ideas about what they envision the space to be.
• So conversations and music doesn’t disturb others in the work areas acoustic solutions is a great way to alleviate noise disruptions.
• Many people do not want to store their personal items on the floor. Provide bag holders for your team to keep their personal items clean.
• Consider lighting options. Both task lighting and softer lighting might be appropriate at different times.
• Finally, how do you manage waste in this area? Facilities can help with the best way to accomplish this. Providing several waste management options such as refuge disposal and recycling can be a great addition to your space and an added bonus to your culture.

Cleaning and Safety

• How will you clean the space?
• Furniture solutions in this area should have easy-to-clean fabric selections that do not wear or fade over time. We recommend vinyl upholsteries in this area.
• How will the furniture be stored during cleaning? Over the tabletops or in a separate area? You may need dollies to help with moving furniture during sanitation.
• Is your space conscious of social distance protocols? How will you manage occupancy in this space? Consider room schedulers to best manage crowding and consider adding extra signage to your space to display the safety protocols for the break room.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when helping your employees take a break safely. SKG can help design the plan that best works for your company. If you are interested in learning more about our break room safety solutions, please reach out to us directly. If you are a new customer, please complete our New Customer Form and a member of our team will reach out to you as soon as possible.