Working in pharma can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also a fast-paced, demanding environment, with long hours. Tight deadlines and high-stakes projects can create a stressful atmosphere — leading to burnout and low employee morale.  

So how do leaders in charge of teams in pharma and biotech create a balance between the drive for results and employees’ need to recharge, connect, and collaborate?

The solution may be as simple as free food. According to ezCater’s Food for Work Report, employer-provided meals are the most in-demand work perk, and when food is catered or delivered on-site, it creates a safe, informal way for employees to bond and collaborate. 

How food perks can help with employee burnout at pharma companies

Studies show that companies that focus on their people have a 78% lower risk of employee burnout, making food perks an excellent investment for biotech and pharma companies. ezCater’s Food for Work Report provides valuable insights into exactly how you can use free meals for enhancing well-being and preventing employee burnout. Let’s take a look at a few of the key advantages. 

1. Free food helps employees recharge

Our report found that 53% of workers feel more productive when they have access to free food. This boost in productivity comes from the simple act of stepping away from their workstations to enjoy a meal or snack, allowing them to return to their tasks with renewed focus and energy.

Additionally, 59% of employees report feeling less stressed when their employer provides food, and 78% say food perks give them more energy to put into their work. By incorporating employee meals into your benefits program, you can help create a happier, more engaged workforce. 

2. Free food makes employees feel appreciated

The high-stakes world of pharma and biotech can create stressful periods for sure, especially during key deadlines or product launches. An unexpected breakfast buffet, catered lunch, or even a tray of snacks can help leaders show their appreciation, boost morale, and improve retention rates.

It’s not just us saying it. A full 89% of surveyed employees say free food makes them feel appreciated, while 46% indicate that food perks make them more likely to stay at their current company. This is significant in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, where retaining top talent is essential for maintaining a competitive edge.

3. Food helps to build community

There was a time when the mid-day break offered coworkers a chance to connect, but fewer employees are actually taking a lunch break than they used to. Strict timelines and intense workloads leave 30% of employees regularly unable to step away from their workstations for a meal. When they do take a break, 45% of workers spend their meal breaks traveling to get food. 

A catered breakfast or lunch improves company culture and creates a sense of community by encouraging teams to get together. Since everyone needs to eat, food perks are an equitable and impactful benefit that the entire team can enjoy. Catered meals can even “earn the commute,” increasing on-site attendance for hybrid workers. 

The benefits are clear — but don’t just take our word for it. Check out the video below, where Samantha Riley, administrative assistant at Vor Biopharma, shares how food is a central part of their culture.

4. Having meals together increases collaboration and performance  

It’s common for pharma employees to work independently or in small teams. However, some of the best ideas and solutions come from bouncing ideas off others. Encouraging employees to collaborate over a shared meal creates a relaxed, informal environment that accelerates innovation and problem-solving.

Everyone feels the impacts of food on team-building. When surveyed, 82% of workers and 62% of employers agreed that free food at work fosters collaboration and connection. In addition, 42% of employees report delivering higher-quality work when their employers provide them with free food.

Why biotech and pharmaceutical companies partner with ezCater

Biotech and pharma companies need a reliable catering partner that understands their unique needs. From easily accommodating employees’ dietary restrictions to handling large, complex orders, ezCater offers a streamlined, efficient solution.

Access to a wide range of local restaurants and national chains ensures diverse options to please every palate, while the user-friendly platform saves hours of valuable time for those tasked with placing food orders. By keeping digital receipts in a centralized location, ezCater makes it easy to manage budgets and track expenses. Pharma professionals can even create billing codes for specific departments or meetings, ensuring clear and organized expense tracking.

Partnering with ezCater helps pharma leaders focus on what they do best while trusting that their catering needs are handled with precision and care.  

Enhance your workplace culture with ezCater

Preventing employee burnout is critical in the pharma industry — and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Offering free meals can significantly enhance workplace culture, increase productivity, and improve satisfaction. ezCater provides efficient solutions for managing your company’s catering needs, making it easy to ensure your employees feel valued and appreciated. Explore ezCater’s catering solutions for pharma and biotech to learn more and start reaping the benefits of an engaged workforce.