I actually get the business case for free food, especially in suburban office parks where “running out to grab lunch” could take more than an hour. But the exact sameWhich benefits companies choose to invest in, and which ones they don’t, says a lot about that company’s culture. One of my favorite adages is “If you want to know what a company values, look at their budget.” This is especially true when it comes to the “extras” that companies use to lure talent.
And if your first thought is “Well, someone leaving at 5pm isn’t going to be a great team member,” you need to check your bias. Drinks and ping-pong are not typically considered “work” at most businesses in America, but we don’t assume someone playing ping-pong at the office table isn’t a team player . We quite naturally tolerate some “off the clock” activities, while stigmatizing others. If playing foosball at lunch helps you blow off steam so you can refocus in the afternoon, that’s great.
When we come out of this pandemic a lot of companies are going to be radically re-thinking a lot about the office and how it functions. Some companies will feel the need to reconfigure space to allow for distancing, food may be considered too risky and too hard to keep sanitary. And in a challenging economic environment benefits that were considered essential may suddenly look like unnecessary luxuries.