Guess what’s the hub of the office…

It’s where all the gossip gets dished and now the kitchen has been officially named the most used space in UK workplaces.

The survey of 1,109 UK adults conducted by household appliances online store Appliances Direct revealed that seven in ten (72 per cent) workers say that the kitchen is the hub of their workplace.

When respondents were asked about the appliances provided by their employers, a surprising 46 per cen t said they don’t have a coffee machine, 31 per cent don’t have a microwave and 26 per cent don’t even have a kettle provided in their office kitchen.

The knock-on affect of productivity is evident from these results, with 61 per cent claiming they feel less productive for not having a well-equipped office kitchen. The lack of a social space where people can grab a drink or snack, or even just brief respite with colleagues evidently has a major impact on their productivity levels.

Furthermore, 32 per cent go out for lunch daily, as they’re unable to prepare it in their office kitchen, with 20 per cent of these saying they are regularly out of the office for longer than they are contracted to because of extended lunch breaks.

Further research reveals the top five industries most guilty of having an office kitchen that isn’t sufficiently equipped, with construction topping the poll (46 per cent), closely followed by retail (38 per cent), IT (29 per cent), marketing (24 per cent), and finally, finance (16 per cent).

Mark Kelly, marketing manager at Appliances Direct said: “It’s said that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and our research has shown that this is also true for the office. The workplace kitchen is a social space, that for many means the opportunity to enjoy lunch with their colleagues, have a quick catch-up whilst making a brew and return to their desk feeling refreshed.

“Given the constant news around workplace happiness and staff morale, it’s perhaps surprising that so many companies don’t look after their employees with a well-equipped office kitchen.”

The top five industries who don’t have a well-equipped office kitchen:

1. Construction – 46%
2. Retail – 38%
3. IT – 29%
4. Marketing – 24%
5. Finance – 16%