Remote and hybrid work is changing employee eating habits, productivity and work-life balance. Deirdre O’Neill explains how employers can foster healthier and more productive teams
Employees who work from home are more likely to eat indulgent foods, snack between meals and work longer hours than their workplace-based colleagues, new research from Compass Group indicates.
More than half of workers globally said they struggle to maintain a healthy diet while at work, with employees who work from home finding it hardest to resist temptation.
Figures from Compass Group show that 53 percent of home-based and hybrid workers in Ireland admit to regularly eating indulgent foods during their working day.
They were also found to snack on average 1.9 times a day, almost 20 percent more than workplace-based employees.
Healthy eating expectations and realities
The survey found that most workers recognise the productivity and well-being benefits of a healthy diet during their working week.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents said that what they eat and drink at work directly impacts their productivity, and, of the Irish respondents, 77 percent said the food and drink they consume has a direct impact on how they feel.
Hybrid workers are making the effort to maintain their health while in the office. Seventy-five percent in Ireland said they make a concerted effort to eat healthier foods when they are in the workplace.
With snacks readily available in the kitchen cupboard and the hassle of planning and preparing balanced meals, employees working from home find it hardest to maintain healthy eating habits while working.
Age-related eating habits
Healthy eating has a generational component, as well.
Younger workers in Ireland are most interested in healthy eating and its impact on productivity.
Millennials are likelier to choose a healthy snack during their breaks (48 percent versus 44 percent of Baby Boomers), and Gen Z snacks more than any other demographic, averaging 2.3 snacks per working day, sometimes replacing a main meal.
Despite their snacking, however, 87 percent of Gen Zers agree that what they eat and drink at work directly impacts how well they work, compared to just 56 percent of Baby Boomers.
Work-life balance
The survey revealed that home-based workers are nearly three times more likely than workplace-based colleagues to exercise during the working day. However, 66 percent of hybrid workers said they work longer hours when working from home, detracting from their work-life balance.
The research also highlighted that hybrid workers miss the opportunity to socialise with colleagues during their working day, with 60 percent saying they would like to eat lunch with colleagues more often.
Employers can enhance the health of their people by offering wellness programmes, encouraging regular exercise and providing nutritious food options while hybrid employees are in the office, and creating a supportive work environment that values work-life balance, ultimately fostering happier and more productive teams.
A healthy bottom line
In a world where remote and hybrid work has become the norm, maintaining healthy eating habits and work-life balance presents unique challenges. Employers are pivotal in promoting employee wellness through tailored programmes, nutritious offerings and a balanced work environment, ensuring a healthier and more productive workforce.
Deirdre O’Neill is the Managing Director at Compass Ireland
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