Free lunch anyone? Free lunch can boost employee morale

Dubai: Food makes people happy, at least most of them. It gets better if it is free. Free food, nothing dramatic, just a slice of pizza is enough to stop people from thinking they are living in a terrible version of "The Office".

No Daffy Duck twister this, just a simple quick-fix solution to boost morale as the world battles the economic downturn.

Paul Baard, communications professor at Fordham University in the United States was quoted in a report in The Boston Globe earlier this month, saying that food "appeals to our need for relatedness".

He said: "You kind of break through that barrier when you sit down and break bread together."

Gulf News reader Tanisha Gupta, an Indian expatriate, works for a media planning agency and believes that a company-sponsored meal or snack would help people connect and boost employee morale.

She said: "It might be like a stress buster where all the employees can get together and chit-chat over a delicious meal.

"It would obviously be a casual event, which takes away the pressure of working during a global economic downturn for a certain period of time. It also encourages people to work harder."

Gupta thinks free food would benefit every individual at a personal level.

"It sounds like an interesting idea to get everyone together. We would get to know the other employees, making it easier for us to communicate with them in the future," she said.

Noel Malicdem, a Filipino expatriate, is a senior designer at a consultancy firm and is in favour of the concept.

He thinks that the idea of a casual free meal will bring people together and prove to be a "learning experience".

A family that eats together also stays together. When a company gives its employees a free meal, the message they send is that they care about their staff.

"If we all eat together, we generally talk about work and thus learn from each other's experiences. Eventually, it does not matter who pays for the lunch. What is important is that we're all together," Malicdem said.

Peter van Veyeren, a South African expatriate, works in a senior position at a bank and thinks the idea of free meals may be a good gesture.

He said: "It would benefit a lot of people who might be struggling financially. Providing employees [with] free lunch would increase their confidence as they might treat it like a reward for their hard work."

However, Veyeren does have some concerns when it comes to the company and whether it will be beneficial to it in the long run.

"Every person has his or her own agenda. People, these days, are living in capsules and socialising a lot less. I believe that free meals are not the solution considering the economic crunch," he said.

While most welcome the idea of a free slice of pizza or a shawarma, there are those who argue against it.

Sarah Shaikh, a Pakistani expatriate employed at an auditing firm, believes it would not be advisable for firms to provide free lunch as the global crisis seems to be worsening.

"I do appreciate the concept... as we can learn from other people's experiences. But, it does not [have to be that] one individual [has] to pay for the meal."

What does your company do to boost morale? What do you think are the best ways to motivate employees in the workplace?

Most welcome, it would benefit a lot of people who might be struggling financially. Also it encourages people to work harder."
Biju Attiyil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 13:37

according to me, nothing works more than giving all your employees a feeling of openness and making them more independent in their daily work, in trying and being the problem solver and a decission maker right at the same time and not waiting and losing the customers by saying that my senior is not arround, what makes every employees happy that he himself has a confident in giving the solution to the problem instead of waiting for his seniors, times have change now we still are working in the same enveironment where people still keep on wasting their and their cleints time in by saying i cant do it i will have to wait for my seniors, or i dont know what to do, come on guys its a new generation we need to boost the confidence of all our employees working.make them independent and than see the result
Bonnie Mendonca
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 13:13

Interesting topic i must say and the views and ideas been shared should be taken into consideration by company heads.For me free lunch for employees is something my company has recently introduced and the reception was remarkable.It creates an informal type of setting where staff can mingle with Heads without going through the process of appointment hence bridging the gap in company hierarchy were the head poses as unreachable . I must say it's the best thing my company has offered it's dedicated staff of 300 employees,this year.
Newton
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 11:49

One could save time from going outside to have food, also it would be great if they could provide food at subsidised rates at work. Offices must have areas where one could sit
Ritu.S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 11:22

It is absolutely important to motivate employees as this surely improves work performance. The work place must not be just a place to work. This is possible when the group leader or the boss takes the initiative to motivate the employees * by celebrating birthdays of the employees* giving a free treat after completing a target* distributing free family dinner vouchers* organising group outings/picnics*giving appreciation letters on good performanceThese are just some of the ways in which a company can make the workplace more positive and boost the morale of the employees.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 11:17

It is not only helping who are struggling in this global economic crunch, but also those who are unable to cook early in the morning to bring their lunch or in those places where a hotel or a restaurent is not within the reach. If a firm feels that offering a free meal is an extra burden they can arrange with some catering company for a rebated priced quality meal, preferably a buffet, in a convenient room within the premises. This can avoid an employee walking out far to get a lunch and will be more beneficial when all the employees sit together at one place.
Satheesh Kumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 11:12

Its excellent suggestion, realy gives more enegy when we chat co workers and we can meet all level of people at a time...
Sethu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 10:32

Acknowledgement or Merit reward can motivate employees.
Resevelle
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 09:57

I clearly agree with Sarah Shaikh. Of course it will boost unity and strength among the one place working people. We see in our own houses, we wait for each other to eat. And especially on holidays and feasts there is a special enjoyment to sit and eat together. As we observe now in most of the work places people only sit with their close friends and go for Gossip. It will create problems, because it will give more chance for doubts. If all come together eating at a time, of course we will come to know better the person we don?t like too and it will help in built up unity and all will work hand in hand. If the food is not good the people will not enjoy. Most of the people get up early to prepare their breakfast and lunch and they will save lot of time and money if food is provided at the working place.
Jovin Rodrigues
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 09:51

As an employee " the best motivation i can get from my workplace is being treated equally not because of my nationality,position,looks, status and etc." and a happy smile from everyone at work specially from my boss.
Jhel Villaruel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 20, 2009, 06:14

cool.the more u give the more u get.treat employee like family. allow employee to take 10mins nap.after lunch fixed time 10 mins before Salat Al Zuhur. hold family day once a year. give 100 dirham during muslim celebration and give birthday present to employee children under 12 years old.
Mohammad Bin Daud
Singapore,Singapore
Posted: June 20, 2009, 05:05