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.