Why choose a lunch plan? (If you still bring packed lunches to the office)

How can implementing a lunch scheme transform everyday life in the office and why should you take the leap?

This was the central question when we spoke to Noah Tharmarajah, Area Coordinator at AS3 Work&Care, where the lunch break has evolved into much more than a simple mid-day meal. With consolidation and development, the need arose to try and implement a lunch program at the Frederiksberg site - and it turned out to be the right decision.

From boring packed lunch to community and lunch with the whole crew

Before the lunch program became a reality, it was common for AS3's employees to bring their own packed lunch or buy something nearby.

The lunch program was welcomed with open arms, and the possibility of an extra hall (more space) made it possible to offer employees a small daily luxury moment. It quickly became clear that the lunch break became a gathering point where employees could relax, socialize and recharge together over a tasty meal:

"Colleagues really enjoy having a lunch program, they enjoy themselves and talk about the food itself. It shifts the conversation away from work and into a more open and informal space.”

Social glue in the workplace

The lunch program has also served as a tool to build bridges between employees.

You can even thank the lunch program for the fact that more people choose to come into the office every day:"At Frederiksberg, it's the lunch program that makes attendance higher, instead of working online. Socializing has a bigger factor after the lunch scheme was introduced".

At AS3, they don't have a maid, so employees are responsible for clearing up and loading the dishwasher themselves. But even this task can have its positive benefits:

"It's like team building every day for them, and they're really happy about that. The colleagues also get to know each other better, as we've had to get to know each other better after merging with Østerbro."

Here, small talk occurs, and employees get to know each other better, which also clearly does something for their well-being.

"It’s worth it"

For other companies that are considering introducing a lunch program, Noah says to take the leap—because it’s worth it. Besides the financial and practical benefits, the real value is in the positive effects on employee wellbeing and social interaction.

Something as simple as lunch can be a powerful tool for creating a more satisfying and productive work environment:"Well, it provides social capital, it provides value. It's a different forum we have in the lunch room. It provides a completely different level of satisfaction and well-being that we can see from well-being surveys - so it has many parameters, both for the organization and the employees, where it provides value"

The lunch program at AS3 illustrates that investing in employee wellbeing and social connections is also an investment in the future and success of the company.