78% of employees prefer free food to a company happy hour

Published Updated 4 Min Read

Lunch at office
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Employees want to bond with their coworkers, but over half have lied to skip an after-hour event or snuck out early. Employers can encourage camaraderie — and grant autonomy over off-work hours — by making catered lunches the new time to mingle.

In line with employee demand for a better work-life balance, new survey data from corporate catering company EzCater found that 68% said they would prefer to socialize with coworkers during the day, compared to after hours. When workers feel connected to one another, employers can expect to see higher levels of engagement, company loyalty, and belonging, according to health insurance company Wellmark. Since 78% of those surveyed said they prefer bonding over food rather than over drinks, companies can seize the opportunity to provide a well-planned catered lunch instead. 

Lee Hafner
Editor

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN's popular Benefits in Action and … Read full bio


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