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How many companies in the UK offer company sponsored or company subsidized meals for their staff?
Hello! Thanks for your question about information on the number of companies in the UK that offer fully sponsored or subsidized meals. The short version is that after searching extensively through a number of academic databases, corporate websites, review sites, and industry reports, I’ve determined that the information you requested is not publicly available because the "free food" trend seems to be relatively new, and therefore still novel and lacking proper research or statistics. However, I was able to learn some information about free food programs and growth trends in general. Below you will find a deep dive of my research and methodology.
METHODOLOGY
As stated above, I searched through a number of different types of sites, ranging from review sites such as Glassdoor to academically oriented articles such as the UK government's employee benefits informational pages. I also searched under a number of queries in an attempt to triangulate information, including seeking general statistical information about employee benefits, to more specific searches about companies that offer meal plans. Unfortunately, this trend, which is rather recent and still unusual (as demonstrated by the prevalence of interest pieces by newspapers about the practice, such as "21 photos of the most impressive food at Google" or "Inside the most amazing envy-inducing office canteens") is so far largely undocumented. However, I was able to find some information about the growth of this trend (although the source is from 2013), and information about the effectiveness of these type of programs in general.
BENEFITS OF OFFERING FREE FOOD
The famous US psychologist Abraham Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" suggests that human beings are unable to deal with more theoretical problems (higher problems) like feelings of social acceptance and a sense of self-esteem, before more basic problems are met, such as physiological ones like food and shelter. A BBC article on the trend of free food in offices sites this as a reason why free food programs in companies work-- by taking care of basic needs, employees are freed up to pursue higher goals-- such as quality of work and timeliness.
Indeed, there is statistical evidence that employees who are provided free food are indeed happier. USA Today conducted a study that found that workers are 10% happier at their place of employment if they are offered free food. On this study, the Times states: " While only 56% of employees in workplaces without access to free food reported being "very" or "extremely" happy in the office, that number was about 67% in offices with free snacks..."
As well, the study suggests that Millennials, in particular, are positively affected by free food at their place of work.
"[Millennials] are also the most likely to say they wish their employer offered more snack options." This preference among the Millennial generation is an important one, as Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. Indeed, right now, only 16% of companies, in general, offer free food as a perk.
As well, employees who do offer free food say that it helps foster a sense of collaboration and fun. Of course, free food as a benefit will not maintain employee satisfaction if pay or other crucial benefits such as health insurance are cut, but employees interviewed said it was a relatively cost-effective way to easily raise satisfaction in their workers.
STATISTICS
As stated above, there is, unfortunately, a lack of statistics surrounding companies in the United Kingdom that offer free food or subsidized meal plans/food. However, I was able to find two statistics that I believe may be helpful. According to Employee Benefits UK, dining cards are one of the fastest growing employee perks, with a 30% increase from 2013 to 2014 (unfortunately more up-to-date information does not exist). As well, the site offers another statistic, also from 2013, that currently, only 9% of UK employers offer dining cards such as Taste or Gourmet. Statistics from the USA Today study, published in 2015, reinforces that the trend is growing (16% of businesses offering this perk), although it does not specify if this is just American businesses, etc.
POSSIBLE CONTINUED RESEARCH
In understanding what types of information are and are not publicly available on this topic, I’ve suggested a few other routes you may be interested in researching:
- What are some companies that currently work with businesses to offer free food benefits?
- What sort of benefits do employees find most enticing? How does that differ by generation?
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, after searching extensively through trusted media sites, academic databases, government websites, and review sites, a direct answer to your question is not publicly available because the trend is too new to have amassed much research or statistical compilation. However, I learned that employees are 10% happier if offered food at work and that 16% of businesses as of 2015 offer free food, among other facts. If you’d like to continue research on any of the other topics I’ve outlined above, just let us know!