Hybrid Work Policies Drive Normalization of Busy Mondays in Office Canteens, Report Says

According to Compass Group, the world’s largest food catering firm, Mondays are now just as busy as Thursdays in office canteens in both the United States and Britain, following the return of many global companies implementing hybrid working policies. This trend is attributed to efforts by companies to entice workers back to the office with perks such as free or subsidized meals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on working habits. Initially, workers were hesitant to return to the office on days adjacent to weekends. However, the busy day pattern has normalized across all markets, with Fridays remaining the least busy day in terms of footfall but having the highest average transaction spend owing to lower numbers of customers. This development has somewhat offset the reduction in overall footfall resulting from cost-conscious workers opting for cheaper options in office cafeterias instead of high street restaurants, where prices have significantly increased.