ID224 Operation: Cake

The Idea

A constant morale booster is when people have cake. 

It may seem flippant but organising a fortnightly cake drop from a local cafe, or even the Stafford college culinary school, would help people feel appreciated while benefitting local organisations, especially if multiple departments are involved. Sharing cake with colleagues is a good break for socialising and negates having to buy a separate sweet treat from international chains. Dietary requirements should be provided for to ensure people are not left out of the social networking. 

Having recurring sweet treats, especially if they alter, causes an easily accessible gathering point and allows people to relax with the fun of having something to enjoy. Culturally, events such as Fika and Japanese tea ceremonies benefit working relationships and future collaboration. Healthier alternatives could be fruits (potentially dried to minimise waste). When people feel they are being considered they are more productive. Nobody works hard to feel like they are ignored or taken for granted, and while this would only be a small input towards that problem it would be a physical sign of care towards the members of staff. 

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

Many colleagues are working later, through lunch breaks or dealing with various stresses and having a particular day for a recognised 'treat' becomes something to look forward to at work for minimal cost. Already Tuesdays and Thursdays are known on campus as the 'food van' days which is excellent, however it is not always possible or cost effective to engage. These food vans also necessitate the movement of staff sometimes well away from their workspaces, which due to workload they feel unable to do. Pre-existing break spaces should be utilised to make sure Operation: Cake is accessible. 

Anecdotally colleagues are feeling tired, underappreciated and overwhelmed. The solution to this is more time and resources, hopefully there have been efficiency suggestions that will improve these problems but under appreciation can be ameliorated by actual gestures, such as cake, or additional healthier choices. 

How We Would Implement This Idea

If buying in bulk then prices drop considerably, and it is worth contacting the Stafford College culinary school, who often make an excess of cake for consumption and it is at a very reduced price. This would also support a local educational facility and strengthen Keele’s ties to the surrounding area. 

Healthier options such as dried or ‘fancy’ fruits can also be bought in quantities lower the prices, this would work better with multiple departments so a pilot study may not benefit immediately but doing research gathering via a pilot would be worth the investment. Potentially even ‘tea time’ could be set up as a theme, as different teas can be stored for prolonged periods and would be cheaper for purchase than food. Even teapots can be sourced for very low cost given their ubiquity at charity shops and would add to the character of the event. 

Understandably there is an upfront cost and to see if successful a general check in of the morale in a department before and after Operation: Cake has run would be required.  

After testing it in a few locations, or perhaps a pilot study across increasingly large departments, the results would be gathered to see if this should be rolled out across more schools. Events such as these bring clear times to share other items, e.g. spare garden produce or even have a building swap shop, supporting the sustainability credentials of the University. PGRs would also benefit and potentially other students could join, however, to start it would be easier to plan for smaller numbers of people. Another issue is space as not all schools have clear social areas If wide corridors with seating cannot be utilised then nearby buildings could ‘donate’ their spaces or have clubbed together events, improving the connection potential. 

Banning meetings during this time would highlight that engagement and disconnecting from stress were being valued at a point where colleagues are not feeling supported. It would also be free to the University to enact this and highlights this is seen as important. 

What Success Would Look Like

Survey results showing an increase in happiness after Operation: Cake has been implemented. No leftover cake would also be a success. Staff turnover and burnout are heavily tied to feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated, genuinely meant gestures can go a long way to helping people cope.