What do the highest manager, making 6+ figures a year, and the junior employee with two weeks of experience in the company have in common? They all love free food!
Appreciation toward free food, especially if it’s healthy and designed to appeal to different preferences and dietary needs, is a universal thing that transcends cultures and language barriers. So, you can see why so many employees appreciate meal benefits.
Depending on the type of company you run, offering meal benefits may not come easy. However, the benefits make it worth the investment. In today’s article, we’ll have a look at the type of meal benefits you can offer to your employees and the benefits your company can reap.
What Type of Meal Benefits to Offer?
The good news is that meal benefits can range from free daily lunches to cafeteria plans with subsidized gourmet options. Therefore, you can choose which type best suits your budget and your employees’ needs.
Here are a few examples:
Free or Subsidized Cafeteria Plans
If you want your employees to communicate more, a company-subsidized cafeteria is a great idea. While it’s not a small investment, it can become a hub frequented by every one of your employees.
It’s also a space where you can organize celebration lunches, have teams wind up after a tough project, and allow everyone to interact without the constraints of team allegiance.
Catered Meetings and Lunches
Nothing breaks the tension of a midweek deadline looming in the shadows than the aroma of a catered lunch wafting through the office! Keep your people focused and eager to complete their tasks with the promise of a delicious catered lunch from their favorite restaurant.
Not only does it save your team time on food prep or restaurant runs, but it also infuses an ordinary day with an extraordinary perk.
Meal Kits Subscription
If your team works remotely, then they may appreciate a meal kit subscription. Nowadays, there are plenty of reliable and affordable services that offer a variety of options, from vegetarian to dairy-free and vegan.
Furthermore, some meal kits even offer several plated meals per month. These can turn into gorgeous lunches or dinners that your employees can prepare for themselves or to impress guests.
Snack Stations and Coffee Bars
Snack stations and coffee bars are smaller investments, but they can still make a big positive impact on your employees’ level of satisfaction. Have these stations peppered throughout the workplace and stock them with anything from fresh fruit to protein-packed nibbles.
Pair this with coffee bars brewing barista-quality caffeine concoctions, and you’ve just outlined a recipe for energized employees.
Meal Vouchers and Cards
Another low-investment option are meal vouchers and prepaid cards. Look for nearby restaurants, eateries, or supermarkets interested in signing a deal with your company, and you should be able to reduce costs quite significantly.
Your employees will definitely appreciate these budget-relievers since food isn’t getting any cheaper.
4 Benefits of Offering Meal Benefits
We’ve already established that if your company wants to offer benefits that matter, meal benefits are a great idea.
But what about your company’s benefits? What do you get out of this deal?
Here are some of the most powerful benefits that can help your company grow in the long term.
1. Better Productivity and Focus
It’s no secret that hunger pangs don’t make for focused employees. Plus, if they don’t have a homemade lunch, your people will start thinking (and debating) about where to go to lunch a couple of hours in advance.
This is why offering meals at the office or providing them with a clear lunch destination will save everyone’s time and focus.
2. Cultivating Company Culture
A vibrant company culture is more than just casual Fridays or token birthday cards. When you provide communal meal opportunities, you’re also fostering a sense of belonging.
Sharing food has been a sign of trust and communion since time immemorial, and it remains true in today’s boardrooms and break rooms alike.
3. The Health Factor
Healthy people take less time off, are more focused, and more eager to make things work. Plus, your investment in food will be way lower than the health insurance costs. Additionally, a company that invests in the well-being of its employees is seen as reliable and trustworthy. So, you also get a brand image boost.
Therefore, by steering your team toward nutritious food options at work, you invest in their wellness and your company’s image.
4. Talent Attraction and Retention
High-quality candidates have plenty of options nowadays, so companies have to think outside the box to attract them.
For instance, a company offering comprehensive meal benefits would definitely pique some interesting candidates’ interest. Such perks aren’t merely enticing – they demonstrate that an employer values its team members’ time and overall life quality – compelling reasons for high-caliber professionals to come aboard and stick around.
Key Takeaway
Meal benefits are a universal morale booster suited for everyone, from executives to new hires.
Therefore, by introducing versatile options like cafeterias, catered meals, meal kit subscriptions, snack stations, or vouchers, you’re not just feeding your team. You’re also fostering camaraderie and culture.
This relatively modest investment reaps outsized rewards in productivity, health, employee attraction and retention, which are all ingredients for a thriving workplace recipe.
Guest Writer
