Beyond the office: Why a meal card is essential for employees

9 July 2025

As we progress deeper into the 21st century, companies are seeing the value of taking care of their employees not only with paychecks but also with benefits that contribute to their overall health and happiness. One such employee benefit that's gaining traction steadily is the employee meal card. Whether it's an easy means to pick up lunch or a vehicle for creating a positive work culture, meal card benefits extend well beyond the provision of meals—they're about empowering workers, improving morale, and creating a work environment that flourishes.

But why is offering a digital meal card becoming so essential? How does it go beyond a simple lunch benefit and help shape the workplace of tomorrow? In this post, we’ll explore how meal cards are revolutionising the employee experience and why every modern business should consider offering them.

Key takeaways

Meal coupons offer workers better access to wholesome foods, encouraging increased energy levels and productivity at work.
Making meal coupons available indicates to the employee that their company does care about its people, an outcome that ensures more job satisfaction and less turnover.
Meal coupons promote social gatherings and team dynamics, creating an open, caring, and working atmosphere.
Meal coupons for employees are free of tax in most countries, offering savings benefits to both employees and employers and enhancing employee contentment.
Since digital meal cards allow employees flexibility to buy their meals anywhere, regardless of their geographical location, on-site or while working from another location, employee work-life balance is enhanced.

The power of a meal card: A game-changer for employee experience

In a new world where workers' expectations are changing, companies need to think differently about how they design benefits. Those days are gone when benefits such as health insurance or retirement schemes were the sole critical offerings that came into play. Employees today expect benefits that make their everyday lives simpler, healthier, and enjoyable. That's where an employee food card steps in.

A meal or food card is more than a prepaid card to purchase food—it's a versatile and convenient benefit that suits the workforce of today. Whether workers are at the office or working remotely, an electronic meal coupon guarantees they have access to healthy, affordable, and readily available food choices. This translates to no more fumbling for cash or pursuing receipts. With a quick swipe or tap, workers can obtain a meal that powers their workday.

But beyond convenience, what makes an employee meal card so important? Let's dig further.

1. Meal cards promote healthier food choices

With the high-stress work lives that exist today, many workers sink into unhealthy eating habits, which translates to going for convenient fast foods in transit or ignoring meals altogether due to hectic schedules. Employee meal card benefits rectify this situation by giving employees direct access to healthy meal solutions.

You can read more about it on Understanding Meal Allowances: Key Insights with Pluxee (Sodexo)

By providing a digital meal card, businesses are promoting healthier food choices without limiting employee options. Whether selecting a salad for lunch or a healthy smoothie, the convenience of using a meal coupon at several food establishments gives employees the power to make decisions that energise their bodies for optimal productivity. The healthier employees eat, the better their energy levels, mental acuity, and work performance.

2. Boosting productivity and focus

We’ve all experienced the mid-afternoon slump: feeling sluggish and unfocused after a heavy or unhealthy lunch. A meal card for employees can help combat this problem by providing healthier meal options, leading to more energy and better focus. When employees can choose balanced meals without the hassle of ordering, paying, or even preparing food, they can dive right back into work with increased efficiency.

Additionally, with a digital meal card, employees don't have to leave the workplace to eat lunch anymore. That is less time spent looking for food or waiting in line. They can have a quick, fulfilling meal and return to work with productivity at its highest level throughout the day.

Did you know?

Nearly 30% of employees report that they like their jobs better when their employer offers them lunch. Further, 65% of employees assert that complimentary meals encourage them to remain at their current company.

3. Developing a stronger company culture

Envision a work environment where coworkers share meals, talk about their daily lives, and gossip about matters not associated with work. The benefits of meal coupons can facilitate such a collaborative and social atmosphere. By making employees feel at ease socialising with coworkers in casual settings, it aids in the creation of trust and friendship.

An employee food card gives a straightforward, non-threatening means of uniting teams. Whether team meetings have lunch ordered for them, take a break after a hard project and have a bite, or even have meals with off-site staff by way of food delivery outlets, meal coupons create a more interactive and inclusive environment. Such casual bonding results in improved teamwork, increased communication, and an enhanced company culture as a whole.

Did you know?

69% of modern workers are interested in nutrition programmes, but only 43% of employers provide them.

4. Increasing employee satisfaction and retention

Employee satisfaction is perhaps the most important retention factor, and one of the simplest ways to keep employees satisfied is to make sure they're well-fed. But food isn't merely about satisfying hunger—it's an act that says "we care." Providing a meal coupon indicates to employees that their employers care about their work-life balance and health.

A company-sponsored meal card for employees is a kind and useful benefit. It's not necessarily about delivering sustenance—its purpose is to make their day easier to deal with and less stressful. This makes workers more likely to feel appreciated and respected, translating into increased job satisfaction. And satisfied employees aren't as quick to leave to pursue another gig. Indeed, the mere act of providing a food card can boost employee loyalty and lower turnover rates, saving businesses the time and expense of repeatedly hiring and training new employees.

5. Financial benefits

In terms of benefits, the monetary benefit is always a top priority. Meal coupons are highly cost-effective for employers and employees alike. For employees, meal coupons provide a fantastic means of saving on meals, particularly when the company subsidises the card or provides it as a tax-free benefit.

For employees, offering a meal card can also be a tax-free allowance. Meal benefits for employees are often exempt from income tax in most countries, making it a cost-effective measure for companies to provide as part of their employee welfare scheme. And as already discussed, it can help raise employee satisfaction and lower turnover-related costs, hence being an astute investment.

6. Facilitating work-life balance

One of the biggest challenges workers today have is balancing work and life. Working long hours tends to result in burnout and no time for leisure activities. Meal card benefits are a small but significant gesture toward helping employees' work-life balance by removing the need to spend time preparing food.

7. Environmental gains

A concern for corporations globally, business sustainability is critical, and no sector is as influential as food. Paper meal vouchers are a waste that is simply unnecessary. Digital meal cards reduce the amount of physical cards, receipts, and paper coupons.

Not only are electronic meal cards part of a paperless, eco-friendly office, but they also cut down on food waste by allowing employees to make informed meal choices. In addition, most food card suppliers have partnerships with green restaurants and food establishments, so when employees select meals, they know that what they're eating is not only nutritious but also sustainable.

Final thoughts

Providing a food card for staff is an intelligent investment in workers' health, well-being, and performance. With meal card benefits, companies can boost corporate culture, promote healthy diets, and develop a more motivated workforce. The versatility of an online meal coupon simplifies the ability of workers to organise meals and have a stress-free working day.

In the current competitive job market, providing cutting-edge benefits such as food cards is a must. To enhance employee morale and retention, Pluxee offers an effortless meal card solution that empowers employees with the flexibility and convenience they require to succeed. Make your workplace more productive with Pluxee's groundbreaking meal benefits.