Food & Beverage

DoorDash: Workplace meals help bring employees back to the office

Photo: Yulia Furman/Shutterstock

September 4, 2026

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Office meals are shifting from an employee perk to a strategic benefit. Companies are increasingly using food to boost office attendance, according to a report from DoorDash for Business.

The company surveyed more than 1,000 decision-makers at companies that offer at least one meal benefit. Among hybrid companies seeking to increase office attendance, 93% said providing meals is an attraction, while 47% called meals a main driver of return-to-office efforts and 46% said they are a contributing factor.

Meals also are offered outside the office to remote workers. Seventy-six percent of respondents said their companies provide reimbursements regardless of employees' locations. Other benefits include discounts or memberships (71%) and meal credits or stipends (67%).

Lunch remains the mainstay of workplace meal programs, but 66% of companies cover group meals and 35% cover dinner, suggesting opportunities to expand meal programs to cover more workplace events.

Travel is another area for potential growth. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they see value in a platform that manages both workday and travel meals, with 59% calling this consolidation a must-have.

Companies spend an average of $425 per eligible employee per month on meal programs. The report said effective programs increasingly focus on employee satisfaction, office attendance and talent outcomes.

Additionally, an effective meal program goes beyond feeding employees to focus on supporting how and where people work. Such a program also aids in creating a positive employee experience.

"Meal programs have crossed a threshold," the report said. "They're measured by their impact on satisfaction, office attendance and talent outcomes."