Employee engagement is one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today. The latest research makes for uncomfortable reading. Just 31% of employees were engaged at work during the first half of 2026, unchanged from 2025. At the same time, 18% were actively disengaged.
A Gallup Report highlights something particularly interesting: engagement isn’t simply about knowing what you’re supposed to do. People also need to feel that they matter. They need to feel cared about. They need to feel that their opinions count. They need to feel connected to the organisation and its purpose.
And perhaps that’s where we should start thinking differently about the workplace.
The power of the break
At 2468 Group, we spend a lot of time thinking about something that can sometimes be overlooked in workplace strategy: The break.
We believe a break is much more than five minutes away from a screen or a quick coffee grabbed on the way back to a workstation. A great break can be a moment to reset. A chance to catch up with a colleague. A conversation with someone you might not normally work with. A chance to step away from the pressure of the working day. Or simply the opportunity to enjoy a really good coffee or something great to eat.
These moments might seem small. But collectively, they help shape how people experience their workplace.
Creating spaces where people want to spend time
That’s why we don’t just think about refreshments as products. We think about the space around them. A well-designed break space can become a social hub within a workplace.
Good coffee encourages people to stop. Great food gives people a reason to stay. Comfortable spaces encourage conversation. Smart refreshment solutions make it easier for people to access what they want, when they want it. And together, these things create opportunities for people to refuel, connect and recharge.
That’s important in today’s workplaces, particularly where teams may work different shifts, across multiple locations or in environments where people don’t naturally get many opportunities to interact.
Great coffee can create a great moment
There’s something very simple about sharing a coffee.
You might start with: “How are you getting on?”
And end up having a conversation that wouldn’t have happened anywhere else. That’s why we take our coffee seriously. Through our own Ferns coffee blends, expertly roasted and served through some of the best bean-to-cup technology available, we’re not simply trying to provide caffeine.
We’re trying to create a better break. And the same applies to food. From smart fridges and vending solutions to hot food and fresh food options, we want to give people choice and convenience throughout their working day. Because what you offer people during their break says something about how you view their experience at work.
The workplace is changing. The need to connect isn’t.
Technology is changing how we work. AI is changing jobs, processes and productivity. Hybrid working has changed how teams interact. But one thing hasn’t changed:
People are still people. They still need connection. They still need recognition. They still need moments to switch off. And they still need to feel that their workplace cares about their experience.
Interestingly, Gallup’s latest research reinforces the importance of the human side of work. Its findings show that engagement is strongly associated with supportive management and clear expectations, demonstrating that technology alone isn’t enough to create a better employee experience.
The same principle applies to the physical workplace. You can invest in technology, systems and processes. But don’t forget to invest in the moments in between.
Making breaks matter
This is why our purpose is built around Making Breaks Matter. We want to help organisations create workplaces where people can take a proper break. Where the coffee is genuinely good. Where there’s food people actually want to eat. Where the break space feels welcoming. Where people can sit, talk, laugh, recharge and connect. Because we believe those moments matter.
We don’t claim that a great coffee machine or a beautifully designed break space will suddenly transform employee engagement. But we do believe that every interaction contributes to the employee experience.
Engagement is built in the moments between the work
The recent research is a reminder that organisations need to think beyond productivity. People need to feel connected to their work, their colleagues and their organisation. Perhaps we should also think about the spaces that make those connections possible.
The kitchen. The coffee area. The canteen. The break room. The place where someone grabs a coffee with a colleague before starting their shift. The table where a team sits down together for lunch.
Those are workplace moments too.
Sometimes, the most important part of the working day is the part where you stop working for a moment. Great coffee. Great food. Great break spaces. Better workplace experiences. That’s the kind of workplace we’re here to help create.
SOURCES: Gallup Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates
