Problem Statement
There is a problem in my company as the management has ignored the need of providing leisure facilities at the workplace. Often, the company’s employees complain of long working shifts without rejuvenation. It is important for organizations and corporations to let their employees take quick short breaks. They also need to provide additional recreational facilities within the office space in an effort of enhancing the employee’s productivity. Moreover, according to Olstad, Raine, & McCargar (2012), recreation and leisure are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. Most of the employees at the workplace suffer from obesity and overweight. In regards to the above information, my company needs to consider starting up a recreational facility for the employees.
Terminology
Report Overview
Overview Alternatives
Alternative A: Gym-In solving the problem identified the two possible solutions available is starting a gym facility. A gym facility will be used as a recreation and fitness center by the faculty and staff enhancing their work performance.
Alternative B: Café- On the other hand, a café will be a suitable place where the employees can relax while enjoying some drinks and beverages.
Criteria- In measuring the worthiness of each possible solution, five criteria’s will be used.
Suitability- Will the new gym facility or café fit in with the culture of the workplace.
Cost- how much will the new gym facilities or new café cost?
Effectiveness- Will there be a change in healthy habits and produce productivity in the workplace?
Desirability- what percentage of the employee staff will actually use the café or the gym facility.
Benefits- This will be important to be able to determine the best solution to solving the company’s problem identified.
Research Methods
Research Methods will be conducted to determine the best alternative to be implemented. Organization employees will be asked to determine the best solution among the two that they would prefer. Additional research will also be conducted to determine the cost, suitability, and requirement of starting each project using internet searching. Possible similar projects already implemented will be identified that will act as a guide to the new project. It is important for my company to provide a recreational facility within the office space in enhancing the employee’s motivation and work productivity. Data from the employees will be collected in form of questionnaires. Employees will be asked about what the office should include in order to make it a more relaxed environment. Employees will then be asked to choose between the alternatives in order to determine which is most preferred. Additional information about the two alternatives can be obtained from different service providers who provide either of the services.
Evaluation of Alternatives
Suitability
Gym- many employees will want to work out at some time during the day. Currently many of the employees who use gyms have to use them early in the morning before getting to work or late in the evening after leaving work. There are also employees who like to access gym services but are unable to due to accessibility. Having a gym at the work place is a good solution that provides the service to employees at a convenient place.
Cafe- employees usually have to leave the office in order to get food, drinks and beverages. This means that employees either leave the building or remain in the office if they have tight deadlines. This can be stressful especially or employees with tight deadlines. A café would provide convenience for employees. Employees would also not have to leave the office for lunch breaks separately. This means that conversations can take place in the café in a relaxed environment which can lead to better work among employees.
Cost
Gym- setting up a gym will require a room to be identified. This can be expensive if the office occupies rented space. It is also expensive to equip a gym fully. Although the initial cost is high, maintenance costs are relatively low because the equipment does not degrade quickly. However, a gym will also mean that the company hires a trainer to ensure that employees are able to use the gym properly and safely.
Cafe- setting up a café will require that a room be identified. As mentioned, this might be expensive for rented office space. Depending on the nature of the café, equipment does not need to be expensive. Running costs will be low if the menu is kept simple and employees will cover these costs when they buy the food items.
Effectiveness
Gym-a gym can be a very effective tool for improving productivity at work. Workers will have a place where they can work out to release built up stress. Working out also gives a feel good feeling that can actually help in improving their immediate productivity. A gym facilitates exercise, which is an important part of healthy living. This has benefits for the employees and consequently the company in the long term.
Cafe-a café in the office is a very effective way of improving productivity. Employees will have their workstations where they work. These can be monotonous and lead to the employee becoming tired easily. The café within the office allows employees to have a place where they can congregate informally and therefore break the monotony of workstations. The café will also provide a relaxed environment where employees can converse and exchange ideas, which results in increased productivity.
Desirability
Gym- although a gym is a good option for relaxation, it is not very desirable in the work place. In order for a person to get the best benefits from a gym, they must spend a considerable amount of time. This will only be available either very early in the morning before work or late in the evening after work. This is because breaks during the day might not be long enough. Many employees are also likely to have other commitments after work and therefore many employees might not use the gym. Privacy is also another issue that might affect the desirability of the gym. Many employees might prefer to use gyms away from the workplace for personal reasons. As a result, the gym might not be desirable to most employees.
Cafe- the café will be very desirable to employees. The aim of having the café is to provide a place where employees can relax while working. As a result, the costs will be kept low. This will mean that employees will not have to leave the office building when they are hungry. Additionally, the café will provide a sort of informal boardroom for employees where they can meet and discuss a wide range of issues ranging from work and personal life where they will not be disturbing other workers. As a result, the café will be used by most of the employees on a daily basis.
Benefits
Gym-a gym will provide a place where employees can work out. However, the gym is not the ideal solution, as proper use requires substantial breaks. These may not always be available and if taken, they might affect productivity of employees if they are away from their workstations for too long (Kirsten & Karch, 2012).
Cafe-a café in the workplace will provide a place where employees can take breaks from work. This is very important, as taking breaks has been known to improve overall productivity. The café can also provide a place where employees can interact with each other. Friendly interactions among employees are also known to foster good working relationships and overall productivity will improve.
Findings and Analysis
Both the gym and café are good ideas for facilities that provide employees with leisure activities. The gym allows employees to work out which is exercise and an important part of healthy living (Rossi, Christensen, & Macdonald, 2014). The café provides a place where employees can meet in the office informally.
Recommendation
References
Kirsten, W., & Karch, R. C. (2012). Global perspectives in workplace health promotion. Sudbury, MA : Jones & Bartlett Learning
Olstad, D. L., Raine, K. D., & McCargar, L. J. (2012). Adopting and implementing nutrition guidelines in recreational facilities: Public and private sector roles. A multiple case study. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 376. http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-376
Rossi, T., Christensen, E., & Macdonald, D. (2014). Workplace Learning in Physical Education: Emerging Teachers’ Stories from the Staffroom and Beyond. New York: Routledge.
