The company conducted a survey of over 600 employees in Great Britain as part of its research into what employees and decision-makers feel are important factors in the workplace. 81% believed tea and coffee to be a standard provision, rather than an optional perk.

Dr. Rob Yeung, chartered psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society commented: "People need to take breaks to remain productive. The average person's attention span is only 20 minutes, so it is counterproductive to sit in front of a computer or stare at the same document for hours on end. If you're looking for creative ideas or inspiration, the best advice is to take a break and stopping for a refreshing drink is a great solution."

Emphasizing the commercial impact of hot drinks provision, Dr. Yeung added: "Employee motivation gurus argue that people must have their basic needs met before they can think about ‘higher' needs such as those that impact their effectiveness at work. People can't be productive and creative if they're feeling hungry or thirsty. Companies that offer their employees a comfortable working environment and good quality services, such as on-site drinks and catering, are really helping their teams to be productive in their working day."

Additional research commissioned by Mars Drinks, shows that 43% of employees say hot beverages specifically have a positive impact on their productivity, with 39% saying hot beverages help them to concentrate. In further research, the company found that 76% of decision makers believe there is a positive impact on morale based on the choice of coffee systems.

"Quality, choice, convenience and reliability are all key decision making factors when looking to purchase workplace resources," explains Justyna Ciepka, Global Marketing Director at Mars Drinks. "Through this type of investment, employees benefit from quality refreshments whenever they need them while at work and employers show they care about their workforce."

Investment in workplace resources, such as coffee machines, allows companies to continue to motivate and invest in their employees in a cost-effective way during a difficult year for business, insists Mars.

Beating the recession

Martin Lines, Marketing Director of Nestle Professional added: "As the recession continues to bite, consumers are looking to cut costs and buy their morning coffee at work rather than on the high street. In the out of home market, a total of 6.3bn cups of coffee were consumed in the workplace last year, accounting for 46.7% of the total market. This means it is more important than ever to offer your staff an attractive proposition that consumers at work are now demanding."

 It is clear that today's consumers are willing to pay more for a hot beverage that is comparable with those on the high street and they expect to be presented with the same choice, says Nestlé. Consumers are also increasingly concerned that the producers of their goods are getting a fair deal and businesses keen to promote a greener image are buying into the benefits of ethical vending as a result.

There are some terrific ranges of fair trade and ethically sourced products out there within the tea, coffee and chocolate categories which will enable companies like yours to show that they care about their workforce and the environment.

Well worth the investment, a valued worker is a much more productive one.

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