ezCater

The workplace isn’t just for getting work done—it’s about connection, community, and collaboration. Workplace experience expert Jess Klay challenges us to rethink the office as more than a space for occupancy, but as a place for identity. It’s about creating a hub where people feel they belong and can reconnect with who they are when they’re together. Ready to rethink your workplace? Watch the full episode for more insights: https://bit.ly/43RWGxV

’Tis the season for effortless, delicious office celebrations. With the season in full swing, there’s no better way to celebrate than bringing holiday foods into the workplace. 🎁 WIth our seasonal specials filter you can order from restaurants like City Barbeque, The Honey Baked Ham Company, LLC, and Olive Garden so that your team can celebrate with seasonal fan favorites. Check out more catering options for the holidays here: https://bit.ly/47XGVGD

The workplace holiday party isn’t just back. It’s bringing people together. Our new Holiday Party Report found that 80% of employees say workplace holiday parties are more important than ever for team bonding in hybrid or remote workplaces. We want to hear from you! Vote below, and get the full scoop on this year’s holiday party trends in our 2025 Holiday Party Report ➡️ https://bit.ly/47SWqzB

Dear Workplace Leaders, Let’s talk lunch. No, not the “sandwich-in-one-hand typing with the other hand” kind. We want to talk about real lunch breaks. The culture of skipping lunch isn’t a badge of honor or proof of productivity. It’s costing your business quality, motivation, collaboration, patience, and time. Here are some quick stats if you don't believe us: - Being hungry at work negatively impacts 88% of employees’ job performance by making them less focused, motivated, and patient. - Plus, 43% of hangry workers are taking longer to complete tasks, 31% are producing lower quality work, and 39% are making more mistakes - Only 42% of workers who block lunch breaks on their calendars end up using that time to eat. - And Gen Z is 110% more likely than older colleagues to believe their employer will look unfavorably on them for taking a lunch break. This causes them to skip lunch more often; in fact, they are 36% more likely than older generations to do so, despite feeling happier and less burned out after a break. - 74% of workers say inflation has changed their lunch habits, with a growing number of workers opting for smaller portions to manage costs. - 75% of hybrid employees now say they would work on site more often if their employer provided free lunch. Our ask is this: Let’s make employer-provided lunch breaks the new standard. Protect employees’ time, boost productivity and performance, AND enjoy a meal together (preferably on you!). When your teams eat better, they work better too. Signed,
 Employees with Growling Stomachs Everywhere

Believe it or not, Gen Z *want* to work in-person (more so than other generations). Vicki Salemi shared her expert insights on why food is a team builder and how it makes an impact on the workplace experience. Check out the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/ga-pC-WD

Your shortcut to holiday joy? Our Seasonal Specials filter 🎁 You can now filter on our website for restaurants offering seasonal items. Bring the holiday spirit to your team and order here: https://bit.ly/3Xh9YQy

🔔 REPORT ALERT 🔔 ‘Tis the season for holiday parties, and according to our recent survey, the workplace holiday party is making a comeback! Swipe for a taste of what’s in this year’s party planning report → Want even more tips to check off your list? Dig into the full Holiday Party Report for all the insights you need to make your party an immediate RSVP YES: https://bit.ly/4p80Tpj

I was reading a report from ezCater the other day about the importance of in-person meals and how that serves as a connection point for the workforce. The data shows that younger workers are more likely to say: 1) Work events centered around food make them feel more connected to their coworkers and 2) Meals regularly provided by their employer improves their employee and workplace experience When I was an HR Director, food was a critical element in our strategy to stay connected to people at work. My team and I loved creating moments where people were able to come together, eat a meal (or some kind of tasty dessert), and spend some downtime together. In fact, it was part of my own personal strategy as the head of HR. My secret goal: proximity to our people. Let me explain. The best HR leader I ever worked for had a kind of sixth sense. She could look at people and tell that something was off, even if I hadn’t realized it or could not tell. These were common conversations between us: “You should go talk with Marie, it feels like something’s bothering her.”  “Did you see Bo come in? Go find out if his kids are okay.”  “Sarah is coming in late. She sounded upset. Try to meet with her and see what we can do to help.” So when she was stepping down and made plans for me to replace her as the senior HR leader in the business, I realized that lack of insight was one of my shortcomings. I didn’t have that sixth sense. I couldn’t “feel” someone’s emotions across the room. My answer to that? Food. We would plan events where food was a draw for attendance and it offered me the chance to connect with our employees, and understand what was going on in their lives. It was my way of learning how I could better serve our team by understanding their needs and challenges. As a bonus, that same ezCater report (the Future of Workplace Experience Report, for those wondering) says that food perks is the number one perk that employees want more of, so it’s a win-win all around! Regardless of whether you’re just catering a lunch for clients, putting together a lunch and learn training, or using meals as a secret way to connect with your people, food is a powerful connector. If you want to learn more, take a look at how ezCater is enabling this for employers across the country: https://bit.ly/4hIyZh1 #ezCaterPartner #PaidPartnership

We surveyed over 1,000 employees for our upcoming Holiday Party Report to uncover all the insights you’ll need to plan a party that employees actually want to attend. But before we share what we found, we want to hear from employees!