How Workers Stuck At Home Are Still Getting Free Company Lunches

The coronavirus pandemic has forced more people to work from home because of lockdowns and quarantines, which has eliminated one of the benefits of being in an office: free company lunches. Although employees cannot enjoy a catered taco bar on Tuesday at work, some companies have found a way to bring free lunches to their homes.

When DoorDash conducted a survey of 1,000 working Americans, the company discovered that 90% missed at least one food-related benefit of being in the office. In addition, 49% said they had at least one work failure because they were busy preparing food for themselves or family while working from home, and 53% of people with children missed a deadline, call or other work matter while making food at home.

The survey found that 85% of people believe regular food delivery would increase their job satisfaction, and 75% think it would improve their productivity. Companies like Zoom and Hulu are already using DoorDash for Work to give their employees free food at home.

Tawni Martino, an executive assistant at Zoom, told DoorDash that the company is using DoorDash for Work to deliver fun desserts to employees working at home on their birthdays. Although Zoom cannot have the large team dinners it used to make for workers before the coronavirus pandemic, it has discovered a way to satisfy sugar cravings and celebrate with them remotely.

DoorDash explains 5,000 companies and teams have signed up to provide free food to employees stuck at home. The company offers several options including, DashPass for Work, expensed meals, group orders, employee gift cards and safe catering. It is important to note that businesses can incorporate DashPass for Work into their employee benefits package to give workers $0 deliveries and reduced service fees on any orders.

According to the survey from DoorDash, free food may be the key to winning an employee’s heart. It found that 92% of the people surveyed think regular food benefits increase workplace satisfaction and employee productivity. Also, 55% who do not get free meals at work admit they are jealous of family or friends who have food benefits, while 20% have thought about changing jobs to get food benefits.

Surprisingly, 21% of those who did not have food benefits at work ranked daily free food delivery as the top benefit they wanted and put it ahead of improved or lower-cost health insurance, additional vacation and transportation stipends. In today’s world of pandemics, lockdowns and quarantines, employees still see value in free lunches even if they are working from home.