If you’re like many employers, you’re always working to increase employee satisfaction. One of the most effective ways to support your team members is to offer meal benefits. Providing food at work seems simple, but it can have important advantages for your employees and the company as a whole.

Higher productivity and job performance

Meal benefits are one way to help your employees make the most of their lunch breaks. Instead of going through the mentally taxing process of choosing a restaurant, leaving the office, and driving or walking to pick up food, team members can take the opportunity to relax and disconnect.

This extra downtime can do wonders for performance and productivity—disengaging from work can aid in mental recovery, reduce stress, and improve well-being. Research from Harvard University shows that when your workers return to their jobs, they’ll have the focus and mental energy they need to perform at optimal levels.

Employee preferences

As you look for ways to increase employee satisfaction, it’s important to pay attention to workers’ preferences. In a recent benefits survey from Robert Half, respondents were clear—employees want their employers to provide meal benefits. In fact, company-subsidized food is one of the most highly desired job perks.

The best part? Meal benefits adapt easily to your budget and your workforce. You can provide a free daily lunch, offer snacks, or host a weekly or monthly team meal. If your team members work remotely, give them credit to a food-delivery service such as Grubhub. This flexibility enables you to keep workers happy without adding an excessive administrative burden.

Stronger workplace relationships

Shared meals have a unique power to connect people and create space for conversation. When your employees sit down together for lunch, they have the opportunity to get to know each other on a personal level. Informal mealtime discussions help team members discover shared hobbies, interests, or backgrounds, building robust relationships in the process.

These friendly bonds can have far-reaching benefits for your business. Strong relationships make it easier for employees to collaborate, develop innovative solutions, and navigate conflict. They also build a sense of community and belonging that creates a more enjoyable workplace experience. Studies show that, over the long term, office friendships can increase job satisfaction and create happier employees.

Improved employee wellness

Meal perks solve a common challenge for busy professionals: maintaining a healthy diet at work. By providing food, you offer an easy way for employees to access and enjoy nourishing meals. Whether you’re stocking the break room refrigerator or ordering lunch for the team, it emphasizes your commitment to employees’ health and well-being.

It’s hard to underestimate the value of adequate nutrition, both for workers and your bottom line. Employees who eat a filling lunch often have higher energy and better concentration. Fruits and vegetables are particularly important; a BYU employee health study found workers who don’t eat these healthy foods are 93% more likely to have productivity losses.

Enhanced recognition and appreciation

Recognition is an important aspect of employee satisfaction; workers want to know that you notice and value their efforts. Meal benefits are one way to show your appreciation for the team’s hard work and dedication. Most importantly, this perk is equally accessible to everyone in the company.

To make sure all your employees can take advantage of meal perks, be sure to accommodate all dietary preferences and limitations. There’s no need to design complicated menus—with a service like Grubhub Corporate Accounts, each team member can order a meal that meets their needs. Simply invite everyone to add their meal to a group order, or assign credits to each employee and enable them to individually order from the restaurant of their choice. All meals are billed to the company account to streamline administration.

To find out how Grubhub Corporate Accounts can help you deliver meal benefits and boost employee satisfaction, learn more about our corporate ordering services today.