Biscuit Envy

I’ve just left a long client meeting where I was the principle presenter and speaker in a room of a dozen professionals, client representatives and faceless others chipping in from the other end of the triangular table mounted squawk box. While stood talking myself into a state of dry mouthed croakiness, I watched enviously as my room mates gorged themselves on chocolate chip, orange marmalade and oaty biscuit delights, all washed down with copious amounts of tea and coffee.

As I waffled on I watched as the biscuity treats became ever more depleted, sadly noting each time the last of one of a particular kind or another disappeared. It was then that it struck me. The oaty delights were indeed a treat for the majority of the gum rattling munchers and were being dispatched hungrily the way a chimpanzee might ram home an unexpected bounty of fruit it had just happened upon during a routine foraging session.

Now we as a business provide biscuits, though not as refined or exotic as the fare on offer today, but biscuits all the same. We also provide two enormous platters of fresh fruit a week and it too is devoured in a frenzied attack the moment it appears. Piranhas have nothing on these guys.

It’s a simple relatively low cost item but the benefit it brings to the business far outweighs the few tens of pounds it costs. Staff feel like they are valued and that their wellbeing is of concern to the business. They also view it’s provision as a barometer as to the health of the business itself. On a more literal health conscious note, I once worked for an architectural practice who provided a subsidised massage service in the office every Thursday afternoon. The more cynical among you may think that it was just a way to keep you chained longer to your desk. Whether it was or wasn’t doesn’t matter. What really matters is that the staff were extremely buoyed by the service even though the majority never actually utilised it. The business cared enough to provide it and that made the staff happy.

As a business we’re probably more generous than most as we also have a drinks fridge which is opened every Friday afternoon. Again not everyone partakes but the sheer fact that it is available gives everyone a feeling of value and a sense of belonging. Any perk no matter how small or low in value has the same beneficial effect.

Despite my biscuit envy earlier today, the regular perk I have most desired was the chef cooked breakfast provided each and every Monday morning to one lucky recently met individual. What a fabulous event and social gathering to hold… and what a great way as an employer to encourage people back to the office for the start of the working week.