Surveys Show an Employee Appreciation Lunch May Be the Motivator You Need

If your company’s idea of employee appreciation is a five-year pin or a ten-year watch, you’re missing out on a powerful way to motivate and retain your top talent. Employee appreciation isn’t just a nice to have, it’s a must-have for creating a positive and productive workplace.

Recent studies from Glassdoor and NectarHR highlight just how impactful recognition can be and why an employee appreciation lunch might be the secret weapon you need to keep your team engaged and happy.

Why Employee Appreciation Matters

Let’s start with the facts. According to a Glassdoor survey, 53% of employees said they would stay longer at their company if their boss showed more appreciation. And 81% of employees reported they’re motivated to work harder when their boss acknowledges their efforts. 

While a pay raise is the most desired form of recognition, food comes in as a close second. The survey found that “unexpected treats and rewards” like snacks, lunches, and dinners were the leading form of non-monetary appreciation employees wish their bosses would show. Unexpected treats ranked above public recognition, career opportunities, and even feeling involved in decision-making processes.

Similarly, NectarHR reports that 71% of employees would be less likely to leave their organization if they received more recognition. This means that when employees feel valued, they’re far less likely to leave. Appreciation isn’t just about making employees feel good—it’s a strategic move to retain your best talent. 

So how can you put this data into action? One of the simplest and most effective ways to show appreciation is by hosting an employee appreciation lunch. Surprise your team with a catered lunch or a mid-week breakfast just to say “Thank you for all that you do!”

The first, a new study by online career site Glassdoor, confirms that appreciation from their boss is the most common motivator for employees — moreso than a demanding boss or the fear of job loss.

And the best way to show that appreciation? Well, a pay raise. But after that? Food!

What to Do

Once you’re ready to plan an employee appreciation lunch, follow these tips to make sure you hit the mark: 

1. Cater to Everyone: Make sure everyone on the team feels valued by taking their dietary restrictions and preferences into account. You likely won’t cater to every employee’s favorite meal, but dietary restrictions must always be followed to ensure that employees feel safe and valued in their workplace. Services like Waiter.com allow you to input employee preferences so everyone is taken into account. 
2. Make It Unexpected: A plate of bagels or box of muffins every Friday soon becomes an expected part of the routine rather than a special reward. While regular business meals are a wonderful perk, consider surprising the office with an employee appreciation lunch on a Monday morning or an unexpected staff breakfast in the middle of the week.
3. Personalize: Include notes or a small token of recognition during meal time. This could be a speech to the team or individually written letters given to each teammate to show how much you appreciate their contributions to the company. Whatever you choose, this extra recognition will make your team feel even more valued for their work. 
4. Encourage Peer Recognition: Grant employees a “recognition budget” and ask them to surprise a coworker once a month with a special employee appreciation lunch. This reinforces the employee’s value within the company, social relationships between coworkers, and increases engagement on both sides of the exchange.
5. Give a Heads Up: Many people prepare their lunches the night before work. Take extra stress off of your team’s plate by sending a Slack message the day before to let them know they won’t need to bring lunch tomorrow. This will get them excited for the coming event and give them more free time at home. 

What Not to Do

While hosting an employee appreciation lunch is a great idea, there are some ways it can go south. Here’s what not to do when you host an office meal: 

1. Ignore Dietary Restrictions: Nothing says “we don’t care” like serving something that your teammates can’t eat. Always ask about dietary restrictions to ensure that you’re catering an appropriate meal for the range of diets on your team. Platforms like Waiter.com make it easy to provide your team’s preferences to avoid this misstep. 
2. Forget Personal Touches: A team lunch without any moments for appreciation is just that—lunch. Your team won’t realize that you’re trying to show gratitude for their work. Make sure you include moments of recognition to get the true point of the meal across. 
3. Be Cheap: There’s a reason people commonly joke about the employee pizza party leadership will give employees instead of raises. It’s because it’s lazy, cheap, and not thoughtful. To hit the mark you want to create an employee appreciation lunch that shows you’ve put some thought (and money) into it.
4. Be Too Predictable: Hosting the same lunch every month will quickly lose its sparkle. Try to mix it up with menus and celebration styles so this moment of appreciation doesn’t feel stale.

Why Companies Choose Waiter.com for Employee Appreciation Lunches

At Waiter.com we understand that every team is unique. That’s why we offer fully customizable catering and delivery options to suit every dietary need and preference. From custom lunches to fully catered office parties, we make it easy to show your team how much you care. 

With Waiter.com, you can: 

• Customize menus for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions 
• Choose from a wide variety of cuisines in your area to keep things exciting 
• Schedule deliveries with ease, to make sure lunch is always on time 
• Setup a corporate account to centralize ordering and billing 

An employee appreciation lunch isn’t just a meal—it’s a special occasion to boost morale, retention, and productivity. Ready to get started? Plan the perfect employee appreciation lunch with Waiter.com today.