Repost from/Original Article from: Food Management
Getting employees back to the office will take creative effort.
Research is conflicting. Some studies report employees favor working from home – others say not so fast. Top CEO’s call it an “aberration” to correct ASAP. Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chase) describes it this way; “Remote work doesn’t work for those who want to hustle. It doesn’t work for spontaneous idea generation. It doesn’t work for culture.”
Workplace problem-solver Envoy surveyed 800 company leaders in April 2022 to find out what incentives and changes are being tested to encourage a return to the office. They found:
- 88% of companies are using incentives to get their workers back on site.
- 61% of businesses are making changes to the physical workplace.
Incentives that connect office culture to employee values rated high in studies because they naturally strengthen participation. And as workers increasingly value personal wellbeing within their work environment, one solution consistently rises to the top. Look no farther than your food service program.
Onsite food programs have been proven to help with employee engagement and retention. Wages are key but not the only important factor. 80% of employees say they would keep a job with good benefits rather than take one that offered more pay and no benefits. The quality and variety of food offered at work is often listed as a significant factor in accepting a job or staying there.
Here are ways your food service program can help with office return:
Food Service Saves Time and Money
With inflation and the cost of living on the rise, providing ways for employees to save money is in everyone’s best interest. Employees have less incentive to work from the office if returning creates additional costs from transportation and meals. Free food works. Let the word get out among the ranks – if you feed them, they will come.
Food programs also save employees time while increasing company productivity. An onsite café or catered lunch can save 30-60 minutes per week per employee, according to a 2014 Willis Towers Watson study. For a professional making $100K per year, this translates to $1,250-$2,500 in added annual productivity for the company.
