They say that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but that is not exactly true. There are many employers now offering free lunches to their staff, as there a number of benefits for both employees and the business that have stemmed from this.
Whilst it might seem like nothing more than a simple perk, it can actually have a big effect on morale, health and your staff retention rates.
In this article, Workplace Refreshments look at why a free lunch can be so beneficial and what affects it can have.
Productivity
Every employer wants the best from their staff, but it can sometimes be tricky to work out how to achieve this. When we are hungry or we do not have the right energy levels, we can not only slow down, but we can also lose our focus and concentration. By providing a free lunch to people, it is more likely that everyone will eat instead of skipping a meal. The energy and nutrients that this meal provides can give a massive boost in productivity as everyone returns to their desks fully fuelled.
In addition to this, enjoying the perk of a free lunch can help your staff to feel cared about and looked after. When employees think that their wellbeing matters to a business, they are more inclined to work harder for it, and so productivity levels get a second boost.
Health
Health is a key factor in any workplace as employees taking time off sick seems to be on the rise. There can be many different reasons for this, and you are not in control of most of them, but you can have some impact on the health of your employees.
It is a sad fact that many people do not have a healthy attitude towards food, and so if you look around the break room or office at lunchtime you will find plenty of people who either do not eat, or eat the things that are bad for them, and both of these can have a negative impact on overall health.
By providing a lunch for staff, you can ensure that they have the ability to eat, and you can encourage them to take the time to do it too. You can plan what that food should be, and it puts you in a position to offer something healthy and nutritious that can help support the health of your staff rather than working against it.
Team bonding
When it comes to lunch breaks in the UK, many of us are guilty of eating at our desks, or popping out on our own, which does not do much to foster a healthy company culture. By providing lunch for your employees, you are encouraging them to take time away from their screens and take a proper break together. This allows people to socialise and form more personal relationships, which can create a more positive working atmosphere.
It also provides the chance for people from different teams or departments to mingle when they might not ordinarily have done so, which can then build stronger links throughout the business.
Staff retention
Not every business goes as far as providing a free lunch for its employees, so the ones that do can become very attractive. Not only is there a financial benefit to be had, but it can also have a positive impact on morale as employees feel cared about and valued. This makes it much harder for them to leave when they see another opportunity and can help to create a sense of loyalty that stops them looking for anything else in the first place.
Things like a free lunch do not stay a secret for very long, and you will soon develop a reputation as a good employer, which will make more people want to work for you. When you next have a vacancy to fill, you will probably find that there is a greater amount of talent to choose from as more people start sending in their applications.
Cost savings
You might not think that paying for lunch for everyone will save you money, but it can. The average off-site lunch is thought to take an hour, whilst eating on-site can take half that amount of time, meaning that your employees get back to work faster, and they’re fully fuelled and happy when they do.
By choosing your catering options wisely, your business can benefit from longer working hours and more motivated and productive staff to help increase the bottom line.
Morale
Keeping all of your employees happy can sometimes be an interesting balancing act, but a free lunch will please most people as long as all dietary requirements have been taken into consideration.
Many employees have said that they prefer perks at work that show they are valued above pay rises and bonuses, and so for a small price per person, you can raise the morale in the business dramatically.
Some surveys have shown that as many as 60% of employees equated food provided by their employer with feeling valued and appreciated, which is bound to have an effect on the overall mood within the workplace.
Relaxation
A big problem amongst many employees is burn out. They may eat during a lunch break, but they do not stop working, and whilst this might seem like a good thing, it can actually mean that they tire quicker and lose focus.
Taking time to step away from work, even for just a few minutes, gives the brain chance to rest and reset, meaning that when employees return to their desks, they feel refreshed and renewed.
The concept of a free lunch is not a new one, but it is often overlooked. However, it can be a fantastic way to boost what your employees do and how they feel about what they are doing. Whether you choose to offer it every day, a couple of times a week or just once in a while, it will be appreciated by your staff.
