March 14, 2011
OPEN Forum Message
Affordably Build Your Brand
FedEx Global Brand Management Director Monica Skipper shares a cost-effective way to build a bigger brand for your small business.
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Mark Ginsburg
What’s the first thing you do when you get to work in the morning? For many Americans, it’s enjoying a fresh cup of coffee. It’s a simple pleasure, but it’s one that people depend on. Thirty-eight percent of workers think they couldn’t live without it, according to a recent study.
Small business owners, listen up. Providing your employees with free coffee is an easy, cheap way to keep them happy. Here’s why:
Workers love coffee. Java has long been a staple of the American office. Sixty-five percent of workers drink coffee on the job, an average of three cups a day. Chances are, your employees are included in that figure. With today’s soaring Starbucks prices, giving your employees free coffee will help them manage their budgets.
Coffee improves performance. Science doesn't lie. Caffeine keeps people awake, alert, and focused. It also improves memory and concentration, which helps reduce the number of mistakes they make. For those who work long or late hours, caffeine has also been proven to help prevent work-related injuries.
Want more tips on how to keep employees happy? Check these out:
Coffee breaks create a positive office culture. The coffee pot is the new water cooler. Giving your employees coffee won’t just improve their abilities; it’ll better their environment. Taking coffee breaks with colleagues is an easy way to get to know them better. A coffee maker can also facilitate teamwork. Forty percent of surveyed employees said they’ve had productive work conversations over coffee.
Perks improve office morale. Giving your employees free stuff helps them feel valued and appreciated. Thirty-seven percent of people would prefer having free coffee every day to the company Christmas party, says another recent survey. In tough economic times, when other perks are cut, keeping a decent pot of coffee in the break room is a way of telling your employees that things aren’t hopeless.
It won’t cost you much. These days, you can get a decent coffee maker for $10. If you have a little extra cash, splurge on a single cup brewer. Fresher coffee means happier workers.
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Mark Ginsburg 1 year 1 months and 30 days ago
Some problems:a) sometimes the coffee pot is insufficiently rinsed out between uses with unpleasant consequencesb) many employees will drink too much coffee throughout the day - good luck trying to go to sleep later!c) drinking a lot of coffee leads to the jitters, possible heart palpitations, and certainly not a whole lot of focus on the job!