As more employees work remote and hybrid jobs, workplace cafeterias are slowly disappearing. Instead, companies are turning to more flexible solutions. By leveraging technology, leaders can meet the needs of their workforce at any given time.
The importance of workplace cafeterias
The elimination of workplace cafeterias points to a larger trend: Employers are changing the way they deliver meal perks to employees. Instead of serving free or discounted meals in cafeterias, they’re finding other solutions.
As more companies reduce in-house food service, they’re shifting industry standards—and, more importantly, shaping the expectations of your current employees and new hires. When you understand how other businesses are providing meal perks, it’s easier to adapt your operations to stay current and keep workers happy.
Why are workplace cafeterias going away?
The American workplace has changed dramatically since 2020. It’s no longer the standard for workers to come into the office 40 hours per week. After realizing many jobs can be done from home, companies have transitioned to a larger number of hybrid and fully remote positions.
The impact on the workforce has been significant. In 2023, 35% of people who were able to work remotely were doing so full-time. A further 41% had a hybrid schedule that involved working from home some or most of the time.
With fewer workers in the building full-time, many business owners are looking for ways to reduce overhead. About 80% have moved to smaller office spaces—a trend that’s likely to continue in the coming years. As companies downsize, they’re reducing facilities such as gyms, laundry rooms, and workplace cafeterias. That doesn’t mean these perks are going away completely; employers are simply finding new ways to provide them to employees.
Alternatives to workplace cafeterias
If you’re considering downsizing your office or eliminating some of your company’s cafeterias, there are plenty of alternative ways to provide meal perks for employees. The right option depends on your budget, facility, and the needs of your workforce.
Stock the office kitchen with self-serve food
Do you have a large in-house workforce? Instead of running a full food-service operation, you might consider switching to a self-serve option. Stock the kitchen with a variety of convenient foods, such as:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Individually packaged snacks
- Sandwich and salad ingredients
- Microwavable meals
- Canned or bottled drinks
This strategy enables employees to create their own meals and snacks. Make sure to schedule weekly shopping trips or grocery deliveries, determine how to accommodate dietary restrictions, and create a plan for handling extra waste and cleanup.
Provide catered meals
If your budget has room for the occasional office meal, catering can be an effective option. Caterers offer plenty of flexibility—they can provide boxed lunches, buffets, or family-style meals. They can also handle setup and cleanup, which reduces the workload for office staff.
To pull off a successful catered meal, make sure to account for:
- Food restrictions
- Rotating menu selections
- Budget limitations
- Space requirements
- Fluctuating staff numbers
Order meals for delivery
The most convenient way to provide food for employees is to order meals for delivery. Services such as Grubhub Corporate Accounts adapt easily to any group size, occasion, or team structure.
Grubhub works well for both on-site and remote workers. If your in-house team wants to order from a single restaurant, choose a group order; employees can pick their own entrees, and everything will be delivered at once. You can also schedule catering for group events. For remote employees or teams with varied schedules, preferences, or dietary needs, simply assign a budget to each person. Then, they can choose their own restaurant, meal, and delivery time. Plus, you’ll only pay for what’s actually ordered and all of your orders are billed to one single account, so you don’t need to worry about saving receipts or processing expense reports. Eligible organizations can also take advantage of convenient tax-free food ordering.
With a Grubhub Corporate Account, you can deliver top-notch meal perks without, or in addition to, a workplace cafeteria. To learn more, get started with Grubhub Corporate Accounts today.
