Over Half Of Employees Miss Out On Catered Lunch Breaks, Survey Reveals

10th May 2022

Over half of employees have never had a catered lunch break provided by their employer, a new nationwide survey has revealed.

Canteen Spend, from Just Eat for Business, looks to reveal employee attitudes towards food provisions at work, and what they would change.

Employers are encouraged to offer more food in the office as a recruitment incentive, as 1 in 10 employees consider it a great work perk.

Some things employees would change about their work canteen include the variety of food available, the cost of meals, and the quality of food options.

Over half of employees (55%) have never had their employer provide a catered lunch break - despite it being considered a crucial perk at work, a new survey has revealed.

The Canteen Spend Study, from Just Eat for Business surveyed over 200 office workers to reveal their attitude towards food provisions at work - including work canteens and in-office delivery - and identify what aspects they enjoy and what they'd change.

The survey found that although catered lunch breaks are proven to promote a friendlier work environment and are considered a valuable work perk, half of employees are missing out.

Speaking on the importance of catered lunch breaks when it comes to employee attitudes, Robert Dunbar - Psychologist at the University of Oxford - says: "The whole process of creating a bonded community depends on engagement in various activities, one of which is eating or drinking together, and that creates a sense of belonging at work.

"Not providing these opportunities has huge knock-on consequences for your health, physical health and mental well-being, by virtue of preventing employees from forming friendships. In addition, they help to foster a sense of loyalty to the organisation."

Employees enjoy spending time with colleagues when treated to food at work, as the survey shows almost a quarter (22%) consider the social atmosphere of eating lunch together to be their favourite part of a work canteen or catered lunch.

And as well as encouraging teams to form strong work relationships, providing catered lunch breaks is beneficial for attracting new talent, as 1 in 10 employees would strongly consider joining a company if they were provided food at work.

The kind of food provisions offered are a key concern for employees, too, as the survey shows that work canteens can often be too restrictive or expensive to enjoy.

When asked about the food offered at their work canteen, 59% of those with access to one felt that the quality could be better, while a third wished there was more variety. This in turn has an impact on wellbeing, with 1 in 5 employees finding it hard to be healthy while at work.

Azmaira Maker, Clinical Psychologist, weighs in on the benefits of providing food at work, saying: "In providing high-quality and healthy food, an organisation aims for healthy and alert employees who have the right kind of fuel in them to keep them performing at their best.

"When employers pay attention to this aspect of wellbeing, they do more than just rack up benefits for employees. They also open the doors of the organisation to several associated benefits ranging from goodwill to a healthier and more engaged workforce."

Matt Ephgrave, Managing Director of Just Eat for Business commented on the findings: "While work canteens have been a staple for many workplaces over the years, the lack of food options and variety can prove inconvenient for employees with dietary requirements and health goals.

A great way to treat your employees to a team lunch is with a prepayment service, like Just Eat Pay, where you can ensure your team is well catered for - dietary requirements and all. With many finding catered lunches to be an attractive work perk and crucial for team bonding, both employees and employers can benefit from regular food provisions."

To see the full findings of the Canteen Spend study, please visit: https://business.just-eat.co.uk/blog/canteen-spend