After two years of collectively contending with the global pandemic, there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel - new beginnings, a new normal. Companies around the world are positioning themselves for a return to office, moving away from the work from home (WFH) model that became customary for so many employees around the world over the last two years.
The pandemic has presented the world with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties none of us could have possibly foreseen. Yet, our collective capacity for adaptability has allowed us to forge onwards over the last two years - but two years is a long time. Organizations recognize that for some employees, returning to work after COVID will require a period of transition before fully acclimating back into an office setting.
A recent study found that 82% of Canadian respondents who’ve worked from home during the pandemic have found the experience to be positive, while just 20% want to return to the office every day. Therefore, for many people, the only thing for certain is that a return to work will be met with uncertainty. Unpredictability is clearly in the driver's seat as we look to collectively move towards a return to work, fortunately, organizations have options to help encourage a return to work.
Save for love, food is the commonality that binds all humanity. Irrespective of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion, we all enjoy food and delight in a good meal.
Prior to the pandemic, research had revealed there is a strong correlation between employee satisfaction and workplace food perks - 56% of full-time employees said they were happy with their present job; that figure leaped to 67% for those with access to free food in their respective workplaces.
Providing your team with healthy snacks and meals not only incentives the return to the office, but likewise comes with a plethora of additional benefits, including stronger company culture and consequently a stronger organization.
Our teammates are in a sense our families. An essential component of team building is enabling employees to establish a rapport with one another. Few aspects of modern life bring people together faster than the geniality of sharing a meal. By offering things like a team lunch, inevitably employees are encouraged to socialize both one-on-one and in a larger group. What’s more, workplace food perks improve employee engagement which is crucial for all team members to shift back to the office.
There are obvious health benefits of offering nutritious food perks at your organization. Team members who are healthy are far more engaged in the workplace, thus increasing productivity.
Research has shown a clear correlation between consuming certain foods and increased brainpower. In essence, an energized brain is a productive brain.
Additionally, offering workplace food perks such as fun, health-conscious meals provides important breaks and downtime for all team members. Team lunch gives everyone the opportunity to de-stress with a mid-day break, combats burnout, and ultimately is advantageous for team productivity. Moreover, it also gives your team one less thing to worry about preparing as they get ready for their day heading back to the office.
Providing your team with workplace food perks is can be cost-effective when done right. Consider corporate meal programs offered through Ritual for Companies, which provide many advantages including:
Geotargeting is the hot new trend that some companies are deploying as an incentive for a return to office. Ritual for Companies is the perfect way to treat your team members to company meals and healthy snacks.
Utilizing in-app geotargeting technology, Ritual for Companies enables companies to offer team members workplace food perks by providing location-based meal credits for local restaurants. Redeemable credits can be used at selected restaurants that fall within a defined radius of the user’s office. Meal credits are automatically added to the employee’s account at the start of the work day, and can be set to expire the following day. By using one-time or even recurring meal credits, businesses can entice employees with a safe and delicious return to office.
Incentivization is a vital component for organizations to employ in order to create a sense of togetherness amongst all team members returning to office. As we move forward in the new normal, providing conditions that will assuage people’s concerns and assist with this transition is key.
Moreover, not only do free snacks and meals incentive current employees to return to the office, but they also are a contributing factor that will attract new talent. According to research, 48% of individuals looking for new employment said incentives like free snacks and meals in a workplace would play a part in their decision regarding job offers.
Moving forward from the global pandemic, the return to work in offices signals a welcome semblance of normalcy. However, for some employees, the transition back to the office may present challenges.
One solution to ensure that everyone is happy about the return to the office is welcoming your team back with healthy snacks and delicious meals. Food is not only sustaining for health and survival but provides a tremendous amount of joy for all of us.
The last two years have not been easy. After the isolation brought about by the pandemic, providing small joys like company lunches gives your team members the opportunity to socialize and bond. Plus, the simple addition of workplace food perks is demonstrative of a positive overall culture of an organization. It serves as a token of gratitude to the most integral resource of any company - its employees.
To learn more about the many benefits of Ritual for Companies:
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