The Value of Adding a Recharge Room to Your Healthcare Facility or Office

The humble break room serves a vital workplace function.  But, how much of a revitalizing “break” do employees actually get in a standard break room that typically only offers bare-bones amenities such as a kitchen and some tables and chairs?  Clearly, most employees don’t think of a mediocre break room as a “getaway” space, indicating that companies could offer their employees so much more if they offered an area where workers could do more than eat and dash.

Table of Contents

• • What is a recharge room?
  • Recharge room features
  • How recharge rooms benefit employees
  • Recharge room return on investment
  • Banner Cancer Center: Recharge Room Case Study
  • Conclusion

What Is a Recharge Room?

If you haven’t heard of recharge rooms, you may have been thinking that it’s a place to juice up your cell phone battery.  But, it’s quite the opposite– recharge rooms serve as a calming space to recover your mental and physical energy.  They can be especially helpful for employees who work in a fast-paced or high-stress environment.  A recharge room can be a great space to take a quick nap, do some stretching, or practice meditation.  Below, you will find some strategically used features that make recharge rooms so good for employee wellness.

Recharge Room Features

• Aromatherapy offers soothing smells
• Good ventilation and air purifiers promote a feeling of fresh cleanliness
• Carpet offers a soft, calming texture
• Comfortable chairs, massage chairs, and recliners foster relaxation
• Projectors can display a peaceful environment
• Natural Light, bubble lights, and flameless candles create a soothing ambiance
• Soundproofing and/or Sound machines create a soft auditory experience
• Plants and other biophilic elements lend a natural feeling

How Recharge Rooms Benefit Employees

• Avoid burn-out
• Stronger immune system
• Improved mental health
• Improved heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce stress
• Foster resilience
• Restore cognitive function lost to trauma
• Lessen anxiety
• Escape to a happy place

Recharge Rooms Return on Investment

So, is it worth it to add a recharge room to your workplace?  Undoubtedly, it will take a considerable investment to do so.  Not only will you need to factor in the cost of construction, but also consider any disruptions that may take place while the room is built.  One good reason to invest in a recharge room is to show employees that you care enough about them to spend the money to make a difference and foster a positive work environment. Another reason to consider a recharge room is that a mentally drained staff may result in a costly and high turnover rate. In the end, it is hard to put a price tag on employee wellness, which is why recharge rooms can be such a (literally) invaluable asset for your workplace.

Case Study: Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (Gilbert, AZ)

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center was a perfect candidate for a recharge room.  A medical facility with high-risk patients can mean long hours of intense work– something that can be draining for any employee.  This Banner facility had an underused corner at the end of a hallway that could be better utilized as a space that would help recharge its workers. As you can see from the floorplan, the features that were implemented into the design to promote employee wellness are the following:  Projector, mounted speakers, comfortable chairs, and new lighting.

Conclusion

Have you considered adding a recharge room to your workplace?  Whether it be a healthcare facility, office, or other space where employees encounter stress throughout the workday, it is clear that recharge rooms can be a valuable asset.  Emerald Inc. is the experienced contractor you will want on your side when it comes to building a new recharge room, or remodeling an old space and converting it into a recharge room.  We will work with you to make your vision a reality– if you are interested in adding a recharge room to your work space, we would love to work with you. Email us today or call us at 480-832-9808 for a no-obligation construction cost breakdown.

Sources

• https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/abilities-research-center/programs-technologies/recharge-rooms
• https://www.popsci.com/health/covid-frontline-workers-destress/
• https://news.uams.edu/2021/09/20/uams-opens-rejuvenation-room-for-clinical-workers/
• https://zenbooth.net/blogs/zenbooth-blog/explained-what-are-recharge-rooms-office-lifes-next-big-thing