After leaving adidas in 2019, Eric Liedtke has continued to make an impact in the industry. He is currently serving as a Senior Advisor to the private equity firm Advent International, where he provides strategic guidance and support for investments in the consumer, retail, and leisure sectors. He is also a board member of several companies, including the outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx and the fitness technology company Hydrow.

Outshining these accomplishments is one crown jewel, Unless Collective.  A company of innovative thinkers dedicated to the development of the first athletic shoe (The Degenerative) that is completely plastic-free. They rose to the challenge and solved for every issue, right down to the tip of the shoelace that keeps it from fraying (called an “aglet” – you are welcome, trivia fans.)

The Making of a Degenerative Disrupter

garten CEO Michael Heinrich recently sat down with Eric where the two connected on a shared passion for a regenerative world and Eric shared some wisdom on his personal wellness philosophy.

After 25 years in the corporate world, Eric wanted to take back his time – his mantra was “zero wasted hours”.  With every decision he asks himself, “Am I helping myself, my friend, my family or my world?”  All his decisions are based on that one question.  “This gives me peace of mind and 100% satisfaction.” 

Eric has been a vegan for the last 7-8 years and practices intermittent fasting.  He does yoga every morning with his wife (and sometimes the kids).  He gets a workout in at lunchtime and finds that working up a sweat midday kicks him into a productive, energetic afternoon.  He also has personal aspirations to continue surfing, constantly improving his game and connecting with his deep love for the ocean. 

He recently renovated a house, making sure to incorporate a sauna, and cold plunge pool.. Trying to go plastic-free in household goods, textiles, and furniture has been a bit more of a challenge, but if he can find a natural solution for an athlete shoe… the hunt may be on for a plastic-free mattress soon!  We wouldn’t put it past him. 

Watch the full conversation at garten.co/infinity.

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This is Part 3 of a 3-part Series: The Non-negotiables of a Breakroom.

Creating a modern, inviting breakroom for employees is essential for maintaining an efficient, productive workplace. You first have to ask yourself, what is the point of a breakroom?  A break room is a designated area where employees can take a break from their daily tasks. It is a place where they can socialize with co-workers and relax. A break room allows workers to re-energize and refresh. It can also be used as a space to collaborate, share ideas, and work on projects together.

In talking with some of the experts in the field, there seems to be 3 “must have” aspects to consider when you are creating a break room that employees will love and appreciate. 

Fun

The more serious your work is, the more you need to have fun on your breaks. 

• A great way to unwind and destress is to play games. Pool tables, air hockey, darts and other interactive games can add a greater physical element to sideline stress and help employees regain focus.  
• If space is limited, consider having a community puzzle everyone can work on, or a community white board where a trivia question is posed or a story is started and each person adds a word.
• Decorations for the season, events and holidays; a bulletin board with an employee highlight of the month: favorite foods, pets, family, hobbies.

Functional

Quick – what are the top three things you think when you hear the words “take a break”? 

• Put your feet up and relax
• Have a cup of exceptional, fresh coffee
• Grab a snack or some lunch

If your break room allows for those three, you have yourself a functional break room.  But don’t stop there!  There’s coffee… and then there’s coffee. Is your break room truly a place where people can go to relax, or are there TVs blaring & fluorescent lights glaring? Are the fridge, microwave, and coffee pot clean?  Is it a place where people can enjoy their lunch, helping your employees to “rest & digest”?  Your answers to these questions will help you determine if your break room is serving its intended purpose or not.  
At garten, visual merchandising is a cornerstone of our brand experience. We’ve built our experience to influence healthy and productive decisions, while making it a place where your team can connect, refuel, and relax. We always use the best materials, natural elements, varied textures and eye-catching pieces.  Let us know how we can help you design a functional break room that ticks all the boxes!

reFreshing

Ultimately, if you are not walking away from your break feeling refreshed and ready for another round of work, then there is room for improvement.  We at garten put the emphasis on “fresh”.  You can’t “re” fresh without it.  And, when we think fresh, we think of food.  You have to ask yourself if the snacks available in the break room are reflecting this ideal.  When your employees eat from the food that is available, will they tank 90 minutes later?  Will their blood sugar crash from the rushed energy buzz they get from over-processed, sugar high carbs?  Or will they stay steady through the afternoon by having a balance of healthy carbs, good fat, and high quality protein?

When we asked, “What are ‘must-haves’ in a Fun, reFreshing, and Functional break room?”, the answer was fresh healthy food providing energy to get through the day.  But variety is also key, keeping the selection fresh and seasonal as well, with great merchandising to draw the eye in and options that are healthier overall.  That’s why, at garten, we are committed to providing the best training for our partners that aligns with the “look and feel” of the vision of the program through 3 different avenues:

1. In-Office Kitchen: One solution for offering employees healthy food during work hours is to have an in-office kitchen. This kitchen can be equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, and other appliances that allow employees to prepare their own meals. Having an in-office kitchen also allows for the implementation of a company-wide initiative to reduce processed and unhealthy food options.
2. Catered Meals: Another solution is to offer catered meals for employees during work hours. Garten works with local catering companies that specialize in healthy and nutritious meals. This option can be especially beneficial for companies that have a high employee turnover rate or for those who have employees that work long hours.
3. Employee Education: A third solution is to offer employee education on healthy eating. This can be done through our self-serve garten Experiences platform with workshops, seminars, or online resources. By educating employees on the importance of healthy eating and providing them with the tools and resources they need to make healthier food choices, companies can create a culture of health and wellness.  From a recent nutrition class held, “Janine was well knowledgeable about nutrition and Nuance employees had wonderful feedback!”. 

Overall, by providing employees with these non-negotiable resources, companies can improve employee productivity, reduce absenteeism, and promote a culture of health and wellness. It’s important to remember that different solutions will work better for different companies and it’s important to find the right combination of solutions that work best for your organization and employees.  Let us know how we can help!

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This is Part 1 of a 3-part Series: The Sensible Breakroom.

Break rooms are an essential part of any workplace, allowing employees to take a break and de-stress. But what if you could make them even better? By designing a break room that uses all five senses, as well as the holistic approach to mind, body and environment, you can create a truly unique and multi-sensory environment that boosts productivity and wellbeing in the workplace.
Designing a break room that incorporates all five senses doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Sights

Create an inviting environment with natural light and colors that stimulate the senses. 

• Windows & skylights are a plus, but you may be stuck working with what you’ve got.  So, instead of bright fluorescents, have lamps around with soft, ambient lighting. 
  
• You can also add wall hangings and decorations to personalize the space.
  
• Real plants (succulents are easy to keep alive!), and rotating artwork (especially done by employees) can create a fun creative space.

Smells

Incorporate natural scents like lavender, lemon or vanilla to soothe the senses and promote relaxation.  Be careful of using synthetic fragrances, as some are sensitive to those. 

• Open the window if possible to let in fresh air.  Bringing in an air purifier will help keep things fresh as well. 
  
• Try this for getting rid of burnt popcorn smell in microwaves: make a solution of 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of either lemon juice or vinegar in a microwave-safe container. Heat for 2-5 minutes, then wipe clean.
  
• Consider having an aromatherapy area, with blends used to de-stress, energize, or promote emotional health.  Have a small jar for each blend (labeled clearly).  Apply a drop or two of the oil blends on some cotton balls and till the container with them.  Encourage employees to take the cotton balls back to their desks for quick little pick ups throughout the day.

Touch

Make sure the furniture and amenities are comfortable and cozy, so that employees can really relax and recharge.  

• Provide footstools so employees can relieve tension in legs and low back
  
• Get a couple of massage pads that can be placed on the back of chairs
  
• Provide tactile activities that help relieve stress: adult coloring, clay or kinetic sand, stress balls, playing cards, etc. 

Sound

Create a calming atmosphere with low-level background music or natural sounds like birds chirping.  In addition:

• Provide headphones that offer noise canceling so employees can get away from sounds and take a moment in silence for meditation and relaxation. 
  
• Bring in a small counter or table top water feature to not only increase visual relaxation but audible as well. 
  
• Great conversations & laughter is always welcome – have a question or joke of the day posted on the bulletin board that helps people get to know each other and stimulate conversation.  Conversation cards on the tables can also be a fun way to interact with team members and associates. 

Taste

Of all the improvements you can make in your breakroom, this is the most important as it will impact your employees for hours to come.  Provide refreshments and snacks that are easy to access and enjoyable to eat. This can range from teas and coffees to healthy snacks and treats.  Making sure the offerings you have are intentional to give your workers the energy they need to get through the day, to handle the stress that comes with their workload, and to have brains ready to be creative and productive. 

• Good Fats – As noted by the NIH, “The human brain is nearly 60 percent fat. We’ve learned in recent years that fatty acids are among the most crucial molecules that determine your brain’s integrity and ability to perform.”  It is also important for us to avoid oils that were once thought of as “healthy”, but studies are showing they may cause scarring of the arterial wall.  Healthy Nuts, seeds and avocados as snacks are a great way to get this important macronutrient during the work day. 
  
• Good Carbs – yes!  We need carbs for energy, but we have to have the right ones at our fingertips.  When our bodies are tanking, we will start to crave the high carb snack that is the most convenient.  The healthiest sources of carbohydrates—unprocessed or minimally processed whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans—promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients. (Harvard School of Public Health)
  
• Good Protein – the building blocks of endurance and strength. Supplying healthy snack power packed with protein will help employees feel nourished and ready to handle the workload ahead of them. If they are easy to grab, all the better.  Think hummus and veggie packs, cheese sticks, jerky, and yogurt.

Why not just let the employee bring in their own lunch or snacks?  Because you care (or you wouldn’t have read this far in the article… )  But, don’t feel like you have to do the heavy lifting yourself!  Companies like garten have been managing the staff break room for years, and are highly skilled at taking the guesswork out of what to provide as well as staying within budget.

The Sensible Solution

By incorporating all five senses in your break room, you can create a truly unique and multi-sensory environment that helps to promote productivity and wellbeing for your employees. With the right design and a few simple touches, you can make your break room the perfect place to step away from the office and recharge.  Take a moment to look around your breakroom – which of the 5 senses are the most in need of improvement?  What one small addition can you make today?

Next up: what are the non-negotiables in a breakroom atmosphere?

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This is Part 1 of a 3-part Series: Break Rooms as Art.

Can a breakroom actually be a thing of beauty?  With an emphatic yes, it is more than possible, it is a non-negotiable.  Here is why:

Employees feel they are valued like a Monalisa 

While 9 out of 10 executives may think their employees feel cared for, the truth is, only 56% employees believe this to be true.  This trend can be reversed with careful consideration of the employee’s needs in a breakroom. 

Morale is boosted and corporate culture is improved

Like any art enthusiast will tell you, it’s all about culture.  Having a place to go to let off steam, create a sense of community, remove a tense vibe and encourage mental breaks will help employees avoid burnout. 

The break room becomes a hub for interaction and collaboration

A creative space will breed creativity and fresh thoughts will brew over fresh coffee.  Make a place where the mind can relax and productivity will flow.  People will gather and share a meal as well as a great idea. 

Employees make more of their break time by staying on-site

As Forbes put it, “Chaining yourself to a desk or scarfing down your lunch in your cubicle isn’t a recipe for success – it’s a recipe for disaster.”  We agree! And for those going out to lunch, there is not much of a break when it’s all said and done.  Creating a great space to relax and eat allows your employees to enjoy more of their break time in a space that shows they are appreciated. 

An impressive meeting space is created for clients and guests

We hear this kind of feedback at garten.  “Other locations come to our site and comment in awe about the variety of healthy snacks they see”, said one manager.  He mentioned that his team is loving the variety that is offered through garten Kitchen. 

In addition to ample choices of high quality, nutritious food, we make sure your break rooms are beautifully stimulating spaces to gather. And then…

Your break room becomes a great selling feature for recruiting new talent

Potential employees would be wise to look for the 3 B’s when assessing a company’s culture and employee value:

Bathroom

How the employee bathroom is maintained says A LOT about how much an employee is valued by the company. 

The Boss’ Office

How does it compare to the general workspace?  If there is a big difference (windows vs. nothing but fluorescent lights), it is sending a message about whether employees are considered to be important contributors, or just cogs in the wheel. 

The Break Room

Does the break room welcome you, inviting you to re-energize and reconnect?  Is it well designed, stocked and maintained? Like a good work of art, does it attract and draw you in through all 5 of your senses?  In part 2 of this series we will go over what it means to have a “sensible” breakroom, including a tip sheet to help you achieve the break room of your dreams. 

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