"Food in the Workplace" Survey Finds Food-Based Perks on the Rise

Second Annual Survey Reveals Positive Effects on Employee Recruiting, Retention and Productivity

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Apr 24, 2014, 10:12 ET

CHICAGO, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Seamless Corporate Accounts, GrubHub Inc.'s leading online food-ordering and billing service for offices, today released the results of its "Food in the Workplace" survey, a study that examines the impact food and other perks have on company morale, satisfaction and loyalty. The second annual survey uncovered that with nearly half (48%) of respondents exceeding a 40-hour workweek some or all of the time, companies have responded in kind by offering more food-based perks, up 11% from 2013.

"As the traditional eight-hour work day continues to extend, many companies are seizing the opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation by offering food-based perks," said Karen Miller vice president of people at GrubHub Inc. and human resources and corporate culture expert for Seamless Corporate Accounts. "Employee dissatisfaction can come with a hefty price tag¹ for companies – providing perks, including food-based ones, can substantially improve productivity and employee satisfaction."

While food-based perks as a whole are on the rise, the survey revealed one area with significant room for improvement: few companies provide or reimburse meals for employees who work late nights or weekends. Of the professionals surveyed, only 9% indicated that their companies offer this perk. Overall, the survey found that enhancing food-based perks is a potentially simple but effective way² for companies to bolster morale, which can benefit retention and recruitment efforts.

Employees surveyed indicated that food-based perks would make them feel appreciated and help build a better workplace culture:

Employees feel the love. 57% of respondents said food-based perks, such as providing or reimbursing meals for employees who work late nights or weekends, would make them feel more valued by their employers.
A well-fed employee is a happy employee. 50% of respondents indicated that food-based perks would make them more satisfied with their employers.
Breaking bread together improves office relationships. 50% of employees said they think sharing meals with colleagues helps foster a better working relationship, up from 43% in 2013.

Additional survey data indicated that as the battle for talent heats up, food-based perks are becoming increasingly more important in the workforce:

Food-based perks help increase employee loyalty. 41% of respondents said that if their current employer were to provide meals, they would be less inclined to accept a job offer at a company that does not.
Employee enthusiasm gets a boost. 28% of respondents whose companies do not provide food-related perks would be excited to have them, ranking second only to gym or yoga memberships (38%).
If you feed them, they will come. 38% of respondents said that food-related perks would make them more inclined to rate their companies highly in a "Best Places to Work" survey, coming in third after flexible vacation policies (52%) and gym or yoga memberships (42%).

"As competition for top talent intensifies, companies are creating inventive programs to differentiate themselves from competitors and to keep top talent engaged and satisfied," said Miller. "At Seamless, we've seen firsthand at how food-based perks has become part of our recruiting brand, creating a halo effect that has helped bolster retention and attract a pipeline of strong candidates."

Seamless Corporate Accounts' "Food in the Workplace" survey polled 1,225 full-time professionals, aged 23-60, who work for companies with 20 or more employees. More than half of respondents work for companies with 500 or more employees. From government and healthcare to professional services, manufacturing, real-estate and tech companies, respondents represented more than a dozen different industries. Questions focused primarily on the effects food-based perks have on employee productivity, retention and recruiting, as well as other aspects of work life such as client and colleague relationships. The survey, which included roughly 30 questions, was fielded in early March 2014.

For more information about the Seamless Corporate Accounts' "Food in the Workplace" survey, the findings and the implications for companies, please visit https://pages.c.seamless.com/FoodintheWorkplace2014Survey.html.

About Seamless Corporate Accounts
Seamless Corporate Accounts, GrubHub Inc.'s leading online food-ordering and billing service for offices, simplifies the process of ordering and paying for food in the office. Used by thousands of corporate clients across the U.S. and London, Seamless Corporate Accounts save companies time, money and hassle by consolidating all ordering into one online account and sending one invoice for all orders. For more information, visit www.seamless.com/business.

About GrubHub Inc.
GrubHub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB) is the nation's leading online and mobile food ordering company dedicated to connecting hungry diners with local takeout restaurants. The company's online and mobile ordering platforms allow diners to order directly from approximately 28,800 takeout restaurants in more than 600 U.S. cities and London. Every order is supported by the company's 24/7 customer service teams. GrubHub Inc. has more than 600 employees, with offices in Chicago, New York and London.

¹ According to Gallup's 2013 State of the Global Workplace report, employee disengagement is reported to cost the U.S. up to $550 billion per year. http://www.gallup.com/strategicconsulting/164735/state-global-workplace.aspx

² According to Glassdoor's 2013 Employee Appreciation Survey, more than 80% of employees say they're motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work and that 46% of employees would feel more appreciated if their boss gave them an unexpected treat like snacks, lunches or dinners. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/appreciation-employees-work-harder-motivation_n_4302593.html

SOURCE GrubHub Inc.