The top benefits for workers: It’s not what you expect

A new study has revealed what benefits workers want as return-to-office mandates ramp up. The results are surprising.

According to a survey by office space solutions company Figari, the top three things workers want in the workplace are:

1. Free quality barista coffee
2. A functional desk
3. A comfortable chair

Figari noted that some respondents spent over $150 per week on coffee, and believe that in the current economic climate, it should be seen as essential to work and paid for by the employer. Furthermore, 50 per cent of workers said they’d return to the office if they were provided quality coffee.

“Worker feedback shows that coffee truly is king, and workplaces need to understand this and adapt if they want to retain and attract quality staff, and get them back working in the office,” said the co-founder and chief executive of Figari, Chris Butt.

“Research shows that over 65 per cent of people drink coffee at work. Over 60 per cent of these start their day at the office with a cup of coffee, and nearly 40 per cent state that they wouldn’t make it through a typical day without coffee. A good cup of barista coffee can cost, on average, around $8.”

He continued: “Most people drink two to four cups of coffee while at the office per day. This adds up. Some workers are potentially spending over $150 per week on barista-quality coffee. It is no wonder that people state that free quality coffee is a key incentive to return to the office.”

Providing these benefits could be a great inclusion to workplace policy. With talent and skills shortages persisting,and plenty of organisations looking for new and exciting ways to attract and retain staff, a coffee budget or similar policy may just be the thing needed to stand out from the crowd.

“Feedback shows that nearly 50 per cent of workers would return to the office if they were provided with free quality coffee. Workers also want breaks with free food. Thirty-six per cent of people want to be able to bring their pet to the office. Only 29 per cent want to bring a child,” Mr Butt explained.

“Coffee has been named as the most popular drink of the working day, 66 per cent, with water only being 45 per cent. So, we know where people’s priorities are; they want access to free quality coffee in the workplace. I should also mention workers stated that they also wanted a functional desk and comfortable chair.”

Research shows that providing coffee in the workplace can have plenty of positive benefits on overall business performance.

According to 360 Connect, the top six benefits of providing coffee in the workplace are:

1. Increased productivity
2. Boosted employee morale
3. Culture and social interaction
4. Collaborative opportunities
5. Time efficiency
6. More productive meetings