It can be difficult to inspire employees to come back to the office when working from home comes with so many perks. People who work remotely love the flexibility it gives them with their schedules, along with avoiding commuting, parking, and transit hassles altogether.
At home, it is often easier to tackle quick tasks like laundry or a trip to the post office during a break, rather than trying to squeeze everything in after the workday ends. For some employees, the biggest perk is simply rolling out of bed and straight into their desk chair, gaining a few extra minutes of sleep while wearing their pajamas to work, at least from the waist down.
Needless to say, the traditional workday has changed, and so has our definition of business casual. It is completely understandable why employees might want to stay home, especially when company culture supports remote or hybrid work. It certainly makes the workday easier. However, it is worth considering what can be lost when companies move fully remote.
These benefits are why many office managers, workplace experience coordinators, and HR teams are facing the challenge of encouraging employees to return to the office. As return-to-office initiatives increase and we continue to move farther away from the peak of the 2020 Covid outbreak, many companies are shifting their focus back to in-person connection, collaboration, and productivity.
While it may feel daunting to compete with the comfort and convenience of working from home, it is far from impossible. The office simply needs to offer something home cannot by creating an experience people actually want to be part of. We are here to help support that effort and share ideas for bringing employees back to the office and making it a place people enjoy being.
Picking a lunch menu for the office does not have to be stressful. In fact, many of our clients turn it into a fun activity. One client, for example, turns selecting weekly lunches into a democratic voting process where each person gets to cast a vote for which menus will appear the following month. The cuisines with the most votes win. It turns out it is easy to engage employees when the decision is tacos versus pasta. Alternatively, you can let the catering company, such as Superfine Kitchen, suggest or select the menus for you. Let us make your life easier by proposing a rotating menu. Whether your employees vote or you let us handle the decisions for you, providing food for your employees is a key ingredient for in-person attendance. Bring people together, feed them well, and the rest tends to follow!
Rather than saving the budget and planning energy for one large quarterly event, consider creating smaller but still memorable moments that add up over time. Whether it is a simple taco bar lunch turned into a full-on fiesta with a few extra decorations or a couple of pastry platters to brighten the morning, a little truly goes a long way.
Throughout catering lunches for many clients, we have noticed that build-your-own bars spark a lot of conversation and connection among employees while still allowing them the freedom to choose what goes on their plate. Implementing a build-your-own poke or salad bar promotes a sense of community and creates natural conversation points, whether it is debating the best flavor combination or sharing how lunch reminds someone of a family trip to Hawaii over the holiday break.
Make office days feel intentional so employees know why they are there. Consider hosting lunch-and-learns, scheduling collaborative meetings with lunch or snacks provided, or saving brainstorming sessions and larger projects for days when the team is together. Make sure in-person days are productive by centering them around all-hands meetings, collaborative schedules, and well-prepared meeting rooms stocked with snacks and drinks to fuel creativity.
Use polls, surveys, or Slack channels where employees can share which lunch was a hit or suggest the theme for the next office gathering. Making employees feel heard is a major benefit and encourages them to come back to the office to see their feedback put into action. If a group votes for a specific cuisine for the next catered all-hands meeting, they are far more likely to attend in person rather than join over Zoom. People may skip meetings, but they do not skip catered lunch!
It is important to ensure that food for any event is set up on time and well-organized. This prevents meal times from running into meetings and avoids wasting employees’ lunch hours while waiting for food. Smooth and predictable food logistics are key to bringing employees back to the office.
Welcoming new employees is just as important as welcoming back existing ones. Celebrate new hires with an onboarding breakfast, treats, or even a small welcome basket with pens, pencils, a notebook, and anything else they may need for their first day in the office. A warm welcome sets the tone for the care and attention they will receive throughout their time at the company, whether on-site or remote.
Prevent decision fatigue by providing lunch with a pre-curated menu. When the menu is already planned, lunch becomes one less decision to make. In a day full of meetings, projects, and planning, that small relief can save energy and streamline the workday. Employees do not need to worry about prepping, packing, ordering, or scouting nearby fast-casual restaurants. One less decision is sometimes all it takes to turn a good day into a great one.
Recognize milestones as they are reached and celebrate them. Whether it is a small goal or a major annual achievement, a festive treat box or pizza party goes a long way in recognizing employees’ hard work and dedication.
A: Successful return-to-office strategies are built on a balance of incentives, accountability, and employee involvement. The most effective approach is creating real value for employees through benefits such as gas cards, free breakfast and lunch, flexible or part-time benefits, and access to meaningful training programs. In my experience, meals and commuter support have had the biggest immediate impact. When incentives alone are not enough, companies may consider differentiating pay or benefits between in-office and remote employees, but this should always be a last resort and handled carefully with HR, especially in California. Ultimately, involving employees in planning the work that affects their daily lives is key. When people feel heard and valued, they are far more likely to return to the office willingly.
A: The biggest challenge is that employees have proven they can work effectively from home and now measure the office experience against that level of convenience. Common obstacles include commute time and cost, the perception that being in the office does not add enough value, misalignment between in-office days and actual collaboration needs, and fatigue from years of shifting work models.
A: Working in person supports stronger collaboration and faster problem-solving, relationship building and trust across teams, learning and mentorship, especially for newer employees, a stronger company culture and sense of belonging, and more spontaneous ideas and cross-team connections that are difficult to replicate virtually. While remote work has benefits, in-person work strengthens the human side of an organization.
A: Food has a significant impact on both attendance and morale. When food is available, employees are more likely to come in and stay longer. It removes friction from the workday by reducing time spent planning meals and creates natural moments for connection and conversation. Providing food also signals that the company values and invests in its people. Consistent, thoughtful food programs help turn the office into a destination rather than just a workspace.
The strongest part of this approach is the emphasis on employee involvement. That is what ties everything together. Incentives and policies can drive compliance, but inclusion drives buy-in. Understanding day-to-day friction such as commutes, costs, and time is essential, and that is exactly where many return-to-office strategies fall short.
Enjoy a delicious Irish feast with our limited-time menu. From savory dishes to sweet treats, we’ve got your St. Patrick’s Day cravings covered. Check out the menu and order now!
