Employees crave flexibility just as much as they crave that first sip of freshly brewed coffee and a sweet treat on a sluggish Monday morning. So is it any wonder that hybrid work schedules are here to stay?
But despite the rise of flexible work situations, in-office attendance still lags at many companies. Whether they’re reluctant to rejoin a congested commute or just prefer the comfort of their home office, some folks aren’t joining their colleagues for on-site work.
Whatever the case, ezCater research suggests that the right work perks can help encourage employees to come into the office and stay for the whole day.
One of the best perks? Free food. Offering a catered breakfast at an early morning all-hands meeting or free lunches weekly can boost attendance. Let’s explore why.
Free food is the secret to boosting attendance at work
Last year, 86% of employers said that food encouraged their employees to come to the workplace. And why wouldn’t it? Whether it’s the excitement to try a new take-out spot or the simple act of breaking up an otherwise routine day, everyone loves food (and a free meal). Plus, it’s an appealing, money-saving solution to a typical lunch break. In that same report, 47% of employees said that the best thing about subsidized lunches is spending less money.
Providing free food as a work perk also shows employees that you appreciate them, and it encourages workers to socialize, collaborate, and connect with one another.
4 ways that food improves on-site attendance at work
Feed them and they will come. This is a lesson employers have learned in the past few years — and it applies to a variety of events. Here’s how free food helps improve attendance at work.
1. Food encourages hybrid employees to work on-site
Consider this: A traffic jam has a hybrid employee re-thinking her decision to make the commute. She’s about to turn around and work from home. But then she remembers that the office is ordering a catered build-your-own taco bar (complete with chips, salsa, and queso) from her favorite family-run Mexican restaurant in town. That’s the sign she needs to take a deep breath, brave the bumper-to-bumper traffic, and show up to work in person.
That might be an imaginary scenario, but it mirrors real data. In our 2023 Lunch Report, 67% of hybrid employees said a free lunch would impact their decision to work on-site, whether it’s a sit-down group meal or an individually packaged lunch order.
2. Food makes in-person meetings more enticing
Getting employees into the office for a meeting is yet another challenge. Often, it’s harder than improving day-to-day attendance at work. And yet, employers and workers agree it’s important: 32% of hybrid employees say that in-person meetings are more effective than on-screen ones.
Once again, food is the solution. Promising a free meal encourages employees to come into the office for meetings. Catering can be especially effective at boosting attendance at those early morning meetings. Don’t underestimate the power of a delicious breakfast spread in making sure employees show up on time.
For example, you could place a catering order from a popular neighborhood café or from a recently opened bakery. Fresh fruit juices, savory sandwiches, and sweet pastries will drum up excitement. Want to make sure everyone is at their best for a meeting later in the day? Re-energize your employees after that afternoon slump with a team coffee order or catered snacks.
3. Food helps break the ice at networking and team-building events
Networking sessions and team-building events don’t typically meet as much resistance from employees. But some folks may still be hesitant about attending — especially if they’re introverts. Serving a catered spread can help. Good food is great at relaxing people, easing their nerves, and getting them talking. Maybe you’re hosting an on-site summit so your remote employees can spend time face-to-face. Though they’ve seen each other on-screen, they’ve never met in person. They may feel some awkwardness at first, even though they’ve interacted (online) in the past. You can help them feel at ease by putting out some finger foods, like mini quiches, empanadas, or sliders. That should get the conversation flowing.
Or, let’s say you’re in charge of ordering catering for an important board meeting and want to impress higher-level executives. Make it a meeting to remember with a more gourmet catering spread. Think: chocolate-covered fruit, prosciutto-wrapped dates, goat cheese crostini, or an impressive charcuterie display.
4. Catered meals make mandatory trainings more enjoyable
Whether it’s a full day of orientation for a new job or a company-wide training session, we’ve all had to take time out of our day to attend a mandatory work event. Some of your employees may be less than thrilled about that idea, but you can make the training a little more tolerable by putting out free food. Order coffee and pastries for folks to enjoy during the first part of their morning orientation, or place a group catering order for a lunch and learn session.
You can even take it a step further by serving brain-healthy foods to keep employees energized, engaged, and focused. This includes foods like leafy vegetables, berries, walnuts, whole grains, avocado, dark chocolate, and even coffee and tea. You might order a bunch of mixed berry and kale smoothies or an assortment of whole grain crackers, fresh fruit, and sliced avocado.
Free food is a crowd-favorite work perk
If you’re looking to boost attendance at work or encourage more of your hybrid employees to spend time at the office, free food is an easy and cost-effective way to do that. And the best part? You’ll be rewarded by a happier, more connected, and re-invigorated workforce.
Learn more about how ezCater can simplify your next corporate catering order today.
