Return to Office Tips: 10 Ways to Engage Employees With Food

To succeed with your return to office (RTO) efforts, you need to offer employees experiences they can’t get at home. Identifying those missing pieces on your own can be tricky—but luckily, a recent survey has some key insights.

According to a 2023 Buffer survey of 3,000 remote workers: Nearly 45% of workers struggle with loneliness, isolation, and/or difficulties collaborating and communicating, and 37% of workers feel unrecognized by company leadership.

How can you help resolve these feelings before they lead to potential problems like worsening health, slowed productivity, and decreased company loyalty? There’s no silver bullet solution, but using fresh fruit and thoughtful snacks to create connection, facilitate recognition, and boost engagement in your office is an excellent strategy.

To achieve those things, you need to do more than simply stock your break room. Here are 10 creative return to office ideas to help you get started.

Create Connection

A strong workplace culture thrives on connection. Food is a great way to bring employees together, foster collaboration, and encourage organic conversations. Here are a few ways to use snacks and fresh fruit to build relationships:

• Set up snack stations in common areas to encourage casual conversations and creative, spontaneous brainstorming. Having a dedicated space for snacks can act as a social hub, making it easier for employees to connect naturally.
• Establish dedicated “snack breaks” at set times where employees are invited to gather in the break room or kitchen. Consider ordering a
  bulk Snack of the Month for a shared unboxing experience. This not only builds excitement but also creates a moment of shared discovery and enjoyment.
• Celebrate milestones with unique fruit and snacks by organizing small office gatherings for birthdays, work anniversaries, baby showers, or even a “Return to Office” welcome event. Introducing seasonal or exotic fruits can make these celebrations feel fresh and special.
• Pass around a fresh fruit and snack basket during in-person meetings to keep energy levels high and encourage participation. Offering healthy snacks at meetings can lead to more engaged discussions and reduce the need for mid-meeting coffee runs.

Facilitate Recognition

Recognizing and rewarding employees plays a crucial role in motivation and job satisfaction. Food-based recognition not only shows appreciation but also makes employees feel valued in a tangible way.

• Have a manager push a snack cart from desk to desk, handing out tasty bites while checking in with team members. This small but impactful gesture fosters a sense of belonging and helps leadership maintain strong personal connections with employees.
• Welcome returning team members with delicious gifts ato make them feel appreciated on their first day back. A thoughtfully curated snack box with fresh fruit, nuts, and other treats is a great way to express appreciation while offering a warm return to the office.
• Celebrate accomplishments with edible gifts such as fruit baskets, gourmet snack boxes, or personalized treats for employee of the month awards, project completions, and promotions. Small rewards like these can boost morale and reinforce a culture of appreciation.

Boost Engagement

An engaged workforce is a productive workforce. Creating unique food experiences can make office life more enjoyable while encouraging employees to participate in team-building activities.

• Host in-office fruit and snack tastings where employees can sample new flavors, vote on their favorites, and bring snacks back to their desks. This not only adds an interactive element to the workday but also ensures that employees have a say in the snacks offered in the office.
• Plan an in-office farmers market where employees can pick up fresh, healthy food and engage with local farmers. This initiative supports wellness, promotes sustainability, and gives employees an opportunity to explore healthy food choices.
• Organize engagement events centered around food, such as Lunch & Learns with industry experts, smoothie-making sessions, fruit-focused holiday celebrations, or even special visits from The FruitGuys’ Banana. These fun, food-focused activities create a more dynamic and inviting office atmosphere.

Our team at The FruitGuys can help with all of these RTO strategies and more.* Ultimately, the more engaging your office experience is, the more successful your return to office efforts will be!