Food has been bringing people closer together for thousands of years. It has given cultures a sense of identity and brought comfort to people regardless of any situation. Simply put, people love food and are better off when they properly fuel their bodies.
In recent years, companies have started feeding their employees, and it’s paying off. Here are eight reasons why you should provide your employees with food.
1. Increase productivity
Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? It could be for your office if your working hours start in the morning. Feeding your employees can improve their productivity and cognitive performance.
If you want your colleagues to start the day well, give them natural carbohydrates such as fruit and whole grain products. Carbohydrates are your body’s primary source of energy and you can find them in fruits, bread, pasta, oats, quinoa and more. If you give these to your employees, you can start the day well.
2. Looking after each other
In the United States, approximately 84% of adults eat breakfast daily. Your office probably reaches almost the same number. Even those who are able to eat breakfast daily may occasionally have hectic mornings and be unable to feed themselves a proper meal. Maybe they had an emergency for themselves, a spouse, a child, or something else.
A lot of things can happen in the hours between shifts, so having food available in the office can be just what an employee needs to start the day better.
3. You are what you eat
‘You are what you eat’ is a saying that is almost 200 years old and still applies. What you eat influences how you think and can determine who you are. The food you eat affects your gut and the chemicals in your brain. You produce serotonin for your body when you consume good, nutritious foods that you enjoy.
Serotonin is a chemical that affects your mood and plays a crucial role in the central nervous system. After eating, your serotonin level is higher and you will be a happier and friendlier person. That’s why some people say they feel hungry and angry (“hangry”) before a meal, and happier after they eat.
4. Building a culture
When attracting new talent, workplace culture is one of the top priorities for potential employees. Having a job that benefits your life is just as important as the pay. A third of workers who changed jobs during the pandemic took a pay cut to get a job they were more satisfied with.
As telecommuting becomes more and more common, it is imperative to give employees a reason to choose an office job over one they can do from home. Providing food in the workplace is an excellent start to enticing these prospects.
5. Keep employees close
Hiring new talent is great, and the next step is to keep these people around for the long haul. Eating is one way to do that.
About 81% of business leaders say free food is the best way to get people to work. Food makes people happy, and offering free snacks and free meals throughout the week may be just what your office needs to keep your employees where they are. About 67% of employees who receive free food in the workplace say they are happy at work.
People look up to you if you are a boss, parent, teacher or any other leadership figure. They admire you and some want to follow in your footsteps. Providing food to your employees can be an example in several ways.
First, it shows that you care about your colleagues. By showing compassion and helping people nourish their bodies, you can go a long way in building bonds. Second, you can take the opportunity to offer healthy foods that promote a productive diet. Thanks to a range of fresh fruit, nuts, yoghurt and vegetables, your employees can choose from healthy and tasty dishes all day long.
7. Community support
There are several ways you can feed your office workers. You can buy a steady supply of snacks, such as fruits and vegetables, from the store. You can order food from a restaurant and have it delivered through your building, or you can call a catering service and have them serve food to the workplace.
If you want to support area restaurants, try ordering from local businesses. Someone in your office may have a family member or friend who works at or operates one of these places. Buying from small businesses can be a great way to make your employees happy and support their loved ones.
8. Save time and money
Nurturing your employees is more than spending money in the name of goodwill. You can also see it as an investment. You save time and money when you feed your employees in the office. Eating in the office means they get back to work sooner rather than spending an hour or more in a restaurant.
There are also monetary incentives. If you provide food in the office, your office may qualify for a tax deduction under the IRS guidelines for deducting business meals.
Food promotes a sense of happiness and community among people. Nourishing your body with good food will make you feel physically and mentally satisfied. It gives you the energy to complete the tasks ahead of you.
If food makes you feel this way, your coworkers will probably feel the same way. By giving your employees snacks or meals throughout the week, you increase productivity, make them happy and keep them working for a long time.