As India gradually moves towards the unlock phase, workplace experience is undergoing a paradigm shift since the pillars of this experience, primarily driven by collaboration and human interaction in office and food services are no longer there.
On the other hand, workplace cafeteria has always been a potent tool to motivate the workforce and, industry leaders think, will be a part of the overall strategy to make a re-entry.
Power of food at the workplace
Portal: The Economic Times(ET HR World)
Key messages focused on –
• An in-depth interview featuring Mr. Dev Amritesh and Vijayendra Babji Veeradhi on the white-paper launch
• Also, featured the Compass Group study, ‘Eating at Work’, that said – food was chosen as the preferred non-monetary perk over flexible working hours, onsite fitness and employee wellness programmes which are perceived as vital nonmonetary benefits.
Monthly Unique Visitors: 56,391,060
Date: 1st December 2020
A recent survey conducted by JLL reveals that of all the services that an employee enjoys at the workplace, food and beverage services always come at the top of everyone’s concern list. A Compass Group study, ‘Eating at Work’, also showed that food was chosen as the preferred non-monetary perk over flexible working hours, onsite fitness and employee wellness programmes which are perceived as vital non-monetary benefits.
As per the study, 73 per cent of the people surveyed ranked café meals as a top priority, demonstrating the power of food at the workplace.
Calling India as a fast-growing and vibrant workforce, Dev Amritesh, Managing Director, Compass Group India, said, “Food at the workplace is a subject that deserves more attention and may present many an opportunity to connect with the young workforce. Food touches everyone, every day, multiple times at the workplace!”
According to Amritesh, food not only adds to employee health and wellness but also boosts concentration and improves productivity. “Employees who enjoy a healthy meal for lunch are 150 per cent more productive and 46 per cent more focused throughout the day, according to a University of Oxford study,” he said.
Employees have been missing office
According to a JLL Global (WFH) Experience Survey (May 2020), almost 82 per cent of the people in India have shown their eagerness to go back to their workplaces. The survey reveals employees have been missing office during the lockdown. Globally, missing social interactions at workplaces has got 54 per cent of the votes making it the biggest factor of all to miss office.
Speaking on the same, Vijayendra Babji Veeradhi, Regional Director, JLL, said, “Complete remote engagement of team members has removed the opportunity for workplace camaraderie, and workplace socializing. Corridor conversations and lounge chats are immense in their value in creating collaboration. WFH does not offer these benefits nor the energizing buzz of the office for the young workers.”
In India, he said a significant proportion of the young workforce live in shared accommodation and this poses a challenge when it comes to attending Zoom calls and meetings. Also, the infrastructure provided by offices is not easily replicable in a WFH setting.
“Many employees see diminishing personal growth opportunities, as they end up executing tasks delegated to them. In a workplace environment, they can demonstrate initiative and capability to step up in responsibilities. It is hard to benefit from such opportunities in WFH,” Veeradhi added.
The report also highlighted that Indian professionals, in particular, stress more notably on the lack of a professional environment while working from home. In India, the absence of a professional environment has got the maximum vote of 41 per cent against the global score of 31 per cent.
“Even experts in mental health have warned of consequences. Social isolation, blurring boundaries between work and personal lives may predispose the vulnerable ones to depression and anxiety. So, leaders are now asking a potent question – Why WFH may not work for India in the long run?” it said.
Most Indian houses need adjustments when it comes to WFH
According to the study, workplaces, currently operating with minimal staff presence, continue to look at the situation with a problem-solving attitude. Across businesses, while some have started calling the staff on rotation, some other companies have asked their teams to develop staff rosters.
“In such a scenario, occupiers are looking at various available options to deliver food to its staff present at the workplace. The transformation is taking place faster than we thought,” it added.
The study further said India’s score in the JLL Global Work from Home Experience Survey indicating lack of a professional environment proves a point – Most Indian houses need adjustments when it comes to WFH.
“Companies are heavily leveraging alternative workplace strategies with more reliance on employee mobility. The unique environment of working from home alongside other members of the household is contributing to additional stress. This is another aspect shaping the awareness of wellbeing with visible interest being demonstrated by employers in areas such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness etc,” Veeradhi said.
There are certain kinds of jobs, the report said, which can be done only with the staff being at the workplace.
“Additionally, several sectors such as retail, e-commerce, transportation and logistics, healthcare etc cannot function with professionals being at home,” it added.