Hybrid and remote work continues to redefine the status quo for today’s workplaces. And now that more than one-third of employees only spend three days a week (or less) on-site, the traditional cafeteria model is no longer the norm. In fact, 66% of leaders predict changes in the standard cafeteria format, according to over 600 key decision-makers surveyed by ezCater.

However, ezCater’s latest report, “Why Corporate Cafeterias Aren’t Working,” uncovered that it’s not just cafeteria management professionals who crave changes to the current model. Employees are generally dissatisfied with the food served in their workplace cafeteria, and 75% of the workers we surveyed say they wish they had tastier cafeteria options available. 

It goes without saying that employee opinions on food for work matter — free and subsidized meals remain a top perk that can drive onsite attendance, boost performance, and power business goals. So, there’s no better time than the present to reassess the outdated cafeteria model and reimagine cafeteria management with more flexible solutions. 

Food for work continues to drive business results

Corporate cafeterias take up a considerable share of annual budgets ($1 million on average, to be exact). However, as a key perk that drives business results, free or subsidized meals offer a significant return on investment that other employee benefits can’t match.

For starters, offering food at work enhances the employee experience. Workers enjoy not skipping meals, not rushing out of the office to buy lunch, and not having to prepare meals in advance. And when food is served, on-site attendance goes up: 81% of hybrid employees say that free food actually incentivizes them to work in person.

Feeding employees also improves employee productivity and performance, creating noticeable boosts in engagement. Combined, these benefits can turbocharge business results. Even better, there are now opportunities to enhance the current cafeteria model (and the employee experience) even further.

3 ways cafeteria management professionals can elevate food for work 

The traditional cafeteria model may no longer be status quo, but the benefits of providing food on-site are timeless. Fortunately, cafeteria management professionals can reimagine food for work without investing in an actual cafeteria remodel. Take a look at these alternative, problem-solving solutions for feeding employees: 

1. Catered team meals from local restaurants employees actually love

It may be time to say goodbye to corporate food service companies and hello to local restaurants instead: 80% of surveyed employees say restaurant food is more exciting than cafeteria food and  62% of workers said food from local restaurants would encourage them to work on-site more than cafeteria food. From celebrating a birthday and showing employee appreciation to planning a team-building workshop, catered team meals from nearby eateries can become the star of the show.

Not only can catered meals increase attendance, but they can strengthen bonds between coworkers. After  a shared meal, you may even see improvements in how coworkers communicate and work together.

ezCater can help companies reap all these benefits. With over 100,000 restaurants available nationwide and a variety of filters to help find the right food for the occasion, finding a local caterer with a budget-friendly menu your employees crave has never been simpler.

2. Individually packaged meals employees can choose for themselves

Employees don’t just consider today’s cafeteria options lackluster — they find them limiting. ezCater’s latest report revealed that a staggering 74% of employees desire a better variety of food options at work. 

This can explain why nearly the same amount (70%) would prefer a service where they could choose their own meal from a variety of local restaurants to be delivered to their worksite, individually packaged and labeled, rather than getting food from an on-site cafeteria.

Enter Relish by ezCater, a customizable meal program that puts employees in charge of their food choices. With Relish, workers get to choose exactly what they want to eat from a rotating list of local eateries.

It’s a great way to keep lunch breaks interesting: one day a team might enjoy tacos from their favorite family-run Mexican restaurant, while the next they get the chance to try a new organic cafe. What’s more, employees with food allergies or dietary restrictions can feel confident about their work meals. 

The best part? Individually packaged meals through Relish easily adapt to fluctuating headcounts. No matter if the whole team is coming in for an important meeting or if only a handful of employees are on-site, Relish feeds everyone — without wasting food or money.

3. Grab-and-go meals that allow them to eat wherever — and whenever — they’d like

Employees also say they’d like more grab-and-go meals. According to ezCater’s latest report, one in three workers wants to pick up these convenient, easy-to-eat options.

One of the reasons grab-and-go meals have become so popular is their flexibility. In fast-paced environments, for example, employees often feel too busy to take a midday break, so they end up skipping lunch . When convenient, individually packaged meals are available, workers can dine “al desko” between meetings and avoid the afternoon slump.

Not to mention, 28% of employees dislike the current cafeteria model because of their limited hours of operation. Boxed meals and snacks can expertly fill those gaps, keeping employees fueled (and in a positive, more productive mindset), even when the cafeteria is closed for the day. 

Plus, grab-and-go solutions can bolster onsite food options for cafeteria management professionals who plan to scale back their operations in the near future. With meals and snacks for employees on standby, there’s far less stress involved in dialing back (or totally eliminating) cafeteria hours. 

Thanks to ezCater, boxed meals are more accessible than ever. After entering your delivery address, select the Individual Packaging filter. You’ll see a list of local restaurants offering boxed breakfasts, snacks, and lunches. Go through it and order mess-free, flavor-packed foods your crew will love. Sandwiches, wraps, and loaded salads are always great choices.

A new cafeteria model for the modern workplace

Fluctuating headcounts, changing appetites, and higher employee expectations are all challenges cafeteria management professionals face. Feeding the office isn’t “business as usual” anymore. Fortunately, this isn’t goodbye to team lunches. New, more flexible food solutions — from individually packaged meals to convenient grab-and-go options — are becoming part of the modern workplace. To explore how today’s leaders are successfully reimagining food for work, download ezCater’s latest report, “Why Corporate Cafeterias Aren’t Working.”