Hybrid work environments are the new norm for many companies — in fact, 46% of companies describe their workplace as “hybrid” — allowing employees to divide their work schedules between at-home workdays and working in an office.

Since in-office workdays are no longer the standard, for many, there’s a certain air of excitement when everyone does come into the office. It’s no longer the 9-5 drag; it’s eight hours of reconnecting with team members you haven’t seen in a few days. So why not capitalize on that positive environment and use it to celebrate that (now rare) in-person work time?

Here are a few ideas to harness your employees’ excitement and maximize your company’s days together.

Gather around food

There’s no way around it: Food is the best incentive for people to work in an office vs. at home. Our 2023 Food for Work survey found that free or subsidized food is the number one work perk for employees — more than wellness benefits, education reimbursement and stock options combined.  

So why not offer catered meals for your employees on their in-office days? You can help them save money on food and give them something to look forward to while working in an office

Organizing office meals, or even a mid-day snack break, can also be the perfect opportunity to amp up your company culture. Whether you order a family-style lunch or a breakfast bar, enjoying a meal together helps build a sense of community — and people want to work in a community-like office environment.

Schedule in-office days around the most festive holidays 

Back when most people worked onsite 40 hours per week, the moment employees often most looked forward to (and remembered!) were the holiday parties. Who doesn’t love to leave their cubicle for some St. Patrick’s Day cheer, a Winter-themed catered lunch or even a March Madness wingfest with their colleague? Those holiday-themed gatherings are the most memorable, so try to plan your in-office times to coincide with days that you can also provide a festive, themed event.  When done right, planning your in-office days around specific holidays can boost morale and help build the office culture. 

There are several ways you can do this. Perhaps you plan a holiday-themed meal or dessert bar. Or maybe you want to take the opportunity to create your own “office holiday” and celebrate the employees who had a birthday that month. 

Another idea is to have a relaxed group meeting about the highs and lows of the past month (or semester or quarter) and then brainstorm ways to make things even better when everyone returns from the holidays. And you can make this pre-holiday meeting even more enjoyable with a catered lunch or brunch. 

Plan out-of-the-box motivational activities

Employee engagement is critical to an organization’s success. Unfortunately, less than 35% of people say they are engaged at work. One way to change that? Offer unexpected ways to reward your staff.

Consider planning monthly — or even weekly — wellness events so employees will look forward to coming into the office. For example, you could bring in a yoga instructor to teach a half-hour session each week, focusing on de-stressing and breathing techniques. One similar idea is to have an in-office massage therapist once a month so people can take truly relaxing breaks before diving back into their work. 

In-office classes, trainings, and workshops can also keep employees engaged while also offering them a chance to expand their skill set. These opportunities can be industry-specific and focus on necessary tech or communication skills. Or they can be completely unrelated and fun, like a mixology class. 

Want to make the classes even more engaging? Combine them with an office lunch or dessert bar. 

Schedule collaboration-based work on “office days”

Let’s face it. If you’re not working onsite every day, it can take some time to get focused first thing in the morning. Not only do employees need to find their desks and reacclimate to the office, they typically spend at least a few minutes reconnecting with their colleagues.

Instead of discouraging those non-work related conversations — because, let’s be honest, workplace relationships are one of the best things about working in person — embrace the connections being made, and use that as a springboard to foster productive work discussions. As part of that, be sure to schedule any brainstorming meetings, group projects, and team-building activities for in-office workdays. 

Not only do collaborative tasks help keep everyone engaged while in the office, but they also make it worthwhile for people to come into the office. You can also add extra incentives by providing an energizing snack or breakfast bar for each meeting. 

Make employees feel appreciated

The best way to motivate employees and make them want to come into the office is to show how much you appreciate them. 

Now, appreciation can come in many forms. Maybe it’s a monthly in-person celebration of employees who have really gone above and beyond, or perhaps it’s a biweekly check-in to see what each person needs. 

Investing in a collaborative and welcoming space can also be a great way to show employee appreciation while boosting in-office productivity. And, of course, engaging activities and weekly catered meals can be the perfect “thank you” for your team.  

Make the most of working in an office with ezCater

Managing a hybrid workplace means finding the right balance between productivity, collaboration, and developing a company culture. But the good news is that there’s one thing that brings people together while motivating them to make the most of in-office workdays: food. 

With ezCater, you can order all the food you need to keep your employees happy, fed, and engaged while working in an office. It doesn’t matter if you have 50 or 500 employees. We have various solutions that can scale with your company and accommodate both in-office and hybrid work environments. 

See for yourself how ezCater’s corporate solutions can help solve your workplace food needs and help make the most of in-office days.