Food is critical to a productive, high-functioning workplace. After all, it’s easier for employees to concentrate and communicate when they’ve eaten a proper meal. As an employer, you can help your team stay fueled and focused by providing food at the office.

Improves employee morale and retention

Food might seem like a small office perk, but it can go a long way toward boosting morale. Providing meals demonstrates that you value employees and care about their health and wellness. That alone can improve job satisfaction—according to Gallup research, better personal well-being is one of the things workers want most. Over time, these positive feelings may lead to higher retention rates and lower turnover.

Reduces stress

Your employees probably spend a considerable amount of time planning or preparing meals for work. When you provide food at the office, team members have one less thing to worry about. And because they don’t need to spend time choosing a restaurant, finding parking, and driving back to work, they’ll have more time to decompress during the lunch break. Small conveniences can contribute to lower stress levels, which can lead to better sleep, memory, immune function, and mental health.

Encourages team bonding

Shared meals are inherently social, which means team members are likely to engage in casual conversation while eating together. These informal discussions help employees find commonalities and build friendships—factors that can enhance communication and improve collaboration when it’s time to get back to work. The best part? Because the bonding happens organically, without pressure or structure, employees may be more receptive.

Ways to provide food at the office

There are no fixed rules for offering food for employees; the best option likely depends on your company size, budget, and employee preferences, but some ideas include:

  1. Stock the Office Kitchen. If your employees tend to eat at different times, you can simply stock the kitchen or break room with snacks. That way, team members can grab a snack on their break or pick up a mid-afternoon treat to eat at their desks. Aim for a variety of packaged and fresh items to encourage varied and healthy eating habits.
  2. Cater team meetings. When you’re serving food to a large group, catering is a cost-effective solution—and a good way to support other local businesses. Try ordering from a different restaurant for each event to accommodate a range of tastes.
  3. Provide regular meals. Serve breakfast or lunch to your team on a regular basis; you might do a daily, weekly, or monthly meal, depending on the budget. You can allow everyone to purchase their own food and provide reimbursement, but an easier solution is to give meal credits to each employee from a delivery service such as Grubhub. This streamlines your accounting department’s workload and enables everyone to choose a meal they love, plus you’ll only pay for the food that’s actually ordered.

No matter how you decide to proceed, keep in mind that more than 40% of Americans adhere to at least one nutrition rule. Make sure you provide options that cater to common dietary limitations, including meat-free, gluten-free, and lactose-free.

Streamline corporate food ordering with Grubhub

Looking for an easy way to provide food at the office? Grubhub Corporate Accounts is the hassle-free solution. Choose from the most ways to order, including catering, group orders and individual meals. Get started with Grubhub Corporate Accounts today.