July 22, 2025
Food, Friends, and Flexibility: What Today’s Workers Really Want
In a time when 76% of employees are now required to return to the office, workplace expectations are rapidly evolving, but incentives haven’t caught up. Nearly half (44%) of those recently brought back on-site say they were offered no perks to ease the transition. That’s a missed opportunity, considering that 80% of hybrid and remote workers would be more likely to come into the office if appealing perks, like free food or flexible hours, were available.
“Companies are telling employees to come back, but they’re missing the ‘why.’ Our data clearly shows that today’s office is an opportunity for connection, not just independent work,” said Robert Kaskel, VP of People, ezCater. “The younger generation of workers crave better perks and friendship. Employees with friends at work are considerably more engaged, so it’s in companies’ best interest to create an environment that fosters socialisation.”
Despite being the top-requested benefit, food remains an underutilised tool for boosting workplace satisfaction. While 44% of employees rank food as their most desired well-being perk, only 19% of employers currently provide any food-related incentives. This gap is even more pronounced among Gen Z workers. As many as 86% say that receiving a regular company-provided meal would improve their workplace experience.
The Double-Edged Sword of Remote Work
Remote work may offer flexibility, but it comes with a cost: isolation. Only 43% of fully remote employees report having a close friend at work, compared to 69% of their on-site or hybrid counterparts. And the connection deficit matters; 80% of all workers agree that having friends at work makes them feel more engaged and collaborative. For many, the shift to remote or hybrid setups has weakened these vital social ties, creating what some are calling an “engagement gap.”
What Do Gen Zers Want?
Emotional distance is very prominent among younger workers. Gen Z stands out as the loneliest generation in the workforce, with 38% reporting feelings of workplace isolation. Over half (56%) of Gen Z employees say they expect their employer to facilitate opportunities for connection. They’re not just looking for a paycheck, but for a sense of belonging. In fact, 85% say that having friends at work directly improves their engagement and productivity.
The role of the office has become a hub for collaboration and community. 60% of employees now view the workplace primarily as a space for social connection. Accordingly, their top requests are informal and communal: outdoor gathering areas (48%) and casual break rooms or eating spaces (36%). These preferences suggest that employees don’t just want to be in the office—they want to enjoy being there.
