The hand that feeds
Indian Management|November 2021
Providing free meals to employees is an effective way to increase engagement and boost productivity.
BOB NELSON AND MARIO TAMAYO
The hand that feeds

Like many things in a work environment, why should employers worry about feeding their employees? Can they not do that themselves with the money they are paid? In a nutshell (pun intended), you do not have to worry about this, but if you choose to consider the topic, the return on productivity, employee satisfaction, and wellness can be significant.

When it comes to employee happiness, 67 per cent of full-time employees with access to free food at work are ‘extremely’ or ‘ very’ happy at their current job, according to SnackNation, a snack delivery service for offices or homes, so it should not come as a surprise that free food is one of the top perks that employees desire. It is one of the major reasons why companies like Google and Facebook use it as a way to attract and keep top talent. Furthermore, that same study found that 48 % of job seekers weigh company perks, including the availability of snacks, in their decision to work for a company.

A survey of more than 1,000 full-time workers conducted by Peapod, an online grocer, found that more than half of people (56 per cent) are ‘extremely’ or ‘very happy at their current jobs. However, that number jumps to 67 per cent for employees who have free food at work.

Shareable meals are a source of workplace camaraderie, especially since the majority of workers spend nearly half their day using technology to communicate. Creating an environment where employees can interact while eating has a positive impact on company culture: 35 per cent of companies provide office meals to encourage team building, a survey from ZeroCater found. This is why so many firms have taken to provide free food throughout the workday, for example, in San Francisco alone:

This story is from the November 2021 edition of Indian Management.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2021 edition of Indian Management.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIAN MANAGEMENTView All
Trust is a must
Indian Management

Trust is a must

Trust a belief in the abilities, integrity, values, and character of any organisation is one of the most important management principles.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2023
Listen To Your Customers
Indian Management

Listen To Your Customers

A good customer experience management strategy will not just help retain existing customers but also attract new ones.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
The hand that feeds
Indian Management

The hand that feeds

Providing free meals to employees is an effective way to increase engagement and boost productivity.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
Survival secrets
Indian Management

Survival secrets

Thrive at the workplace with these simple adaptations.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2021
Plan backwards
Indian Management

Plan backwards

Pioneer in the venture capital and private equity fields and co-founder of four transformational private equity firms, Bryan C Cressey opines that we have been taught backwards in many important ways, people can work an entire career without seeing these roadblocks to their achievements, and if you recognise and bust these five myths, you will become far more successful.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
For a sweet deal
Indian Management

For a sweet deal

Negotiation is a discovery process for both sides; better interactions will lead all parties to what they want.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2021
Humanise. Optimise. Digitise
Indian Management

Humanise. Optimise. Digitise

Engaging employees in critical to the survival of an organisation, since the future of business is (still) people.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
Beyond the call of duty
Indian Management

Beyond the call of duty

A servant leadership model can serve the purpose best when dealing with a distributed workforce.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2021
Workplace courage
Indian Management

Workplace courage

Leaders need to build courage in order to enhance their self-reliance and contribution to the team.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
Focused on reality
Indian Management

Focused on reality

Are you a sales manager or a true sales leader? The difference, David Mattson, CEO, Sandler® and author, Scaling Sales Success: 16 Key Principles For Sales Leaders, maintains, comes down to whether you can see beyond five classic myths that we often tell ourselves about selling.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021