Evolving workplace food services amidst COVID 19 pandemic
JLL, India’s largest real estate consultancy firm,
and Compass Group, the world’s leading provider of contract food and
support services, have come together to launch a whitepaper on
(re)imagine Workplace
food services: What’s next?.
The whitepaper highlights the ideas for leaders on transforming the
workplace, to meet the expectations of the workforce and changing
consumer preferences.
The report captures best practices for C-suite and business leaders,
who are now looking for solutions in workplace food services.
The
impact of COVID 19 on all aspects of our lives, including workplace
environment has been the most disruptive in recent times. As India gears
up for
the unlock phase, workplaces are gradually prepping themselves to begin
functioning with minimal staff, and with required safety measures in
place. We are witnessing a major transformation in the corporate
workspace wherein employee health and wellbeing is
at the core. Amidst the pandemic, leaders are gearing to adapt the
next normal by framing strategies to (re)imagine workplaces and create a
safe and welcoming office environment.
“The
rise in COVID-19 cases in the country means that organisations will
need to reimagine the workplaces and facilities while they continue to
work with
a lesser staff in offices. The pandemic has also forced the
organisations to re-think their real estate portfolios and invest in
tech infrastructure. The two key pillars of this experience -
interaction in office and food services, which used to drive
collaboration
and innovation will no longer be the same,” stated Sandeep Sethi, Managing Director, Corporate Solutions, West Asia, JLL.
A
recent survey conducted by JLL reveals that of all the services that an
employee enjoys at the workplace, food and beverage services always
come at the
top of everyone’s concern list. A Compass Group study, “Eating at
Work”, also showed that food was chosen as the preferred non-monetary
perk over of flexible working hours, onsite fitness and employee
wellness programmes which are perceived as vital non-monetary
benefits. As per the study, 73% ranked café meals as a top priority,
demonstrating the power of food at the workplace.
However,
one of the biggest dilemmas in each of our minds while returning to
offices is that the workplace experience is undergoing a paradigm shift.
The
white paper thus, addresses the apprehensions and anxiety among
employees around safety and security, and health and hygiene as they
return to work. There is a need to evolve and adapt to digital
technology to promote touchless dining operations. The resurrection
of the workplace café will call for disruptive models of working,
innovation around the food itself, embracing digital, contactless
ordering, creative and smart choice of ingredients which may help boost
immunity and promote wellness.
With
sector-focused businesses, global best practices and experience and
expertise across 450+ client locations in India, Compass India
endeavours to continue
to innovate and design relevant concepts to nourish workplaces and aid
the transition to better workplace food habits and choices.
Dev Amritesh, Managing Director for Compass Group in India
says “We understand the importance of cafeterias in workplaces.
A camaraderie shared over a quick coffee-break play a very important
role in bringing the workforce together. As the pandemic pivoted our
needs towards a healthier lifestyle and a safe environment, it is not
surprising to see employees being hesitant on returning
to work. There are growing apprehensions which calls for a resurrection
of the workplace café through disruptive models. Through the paper, we
present some innovative ideas for leaders on transforming the workplace,
to meet the expectations of the dynamic
workforce and changing consumer preferences.”
According to a
JLL Global (WFH) Experience Survey (May 2020),
almost 82 percent of the people in India in a survey have shown their
eagerness to go back to their workplaces. Taking this into
consideration, the whitepaper lays down new protocols to be put in place
for enhanced safety of the workforce. It would involve
a combination of measures to improve workplace confidence along with
workplace design upgrade such as:
Food Safety
- The integrity of supply chain, quality of food, traceability of raw
materials and contactless food delivery mechanisms amidst a changing
consumer behaviour are making the corporate food services players
re-strategize
Change in consumers’ behavioral pattern – Food will be prepared under strict health
and safety norms, transferred hygienically to workplaces for employees, instead of the open serving or buffet model
Use of technology to make wiser decisions
- Healthy and immunity-boosting options,
meaningful variety and ready-to-eat items are making it more acceptable
to consumers. Use of technology like the Internet of Things (IoT) and
online payment windows have given strength to the applicable social
distancing norms.
Flexible design spaces with integrated safety features
- The future workplaces
will also be designed differently, use of more linear designs, surfaces
which can be cleaned easily and a serving counter and seating design to
avoid overcrowding will be practiced.
Factors
such as customer data security concerns and business continuity
requirements have been compelling the C-suite to guide their employees
back. As
we begin to come out of the pandemic, several emerging themes can be
seen around business change, shifting consumer behaviour leading to
adoption of significant operational model changes. Companies are taking
several measures to manage their food services
in times of COVID19 pandemic:
Statutory compliances to safety norms:
Physical distancing norms and measures to reduce transmission of the disease will be followed
Reconfigured cafeteria and the new strategy: There will be a dire need to reimagine
and re-boot the workplace café - prompting companies to reconfigure the workspace and the workplace café
Renew Supply Chain:
Creating
a smart and quick supply chain involving minimal touch-intervention.
The present scenario has highlighted the importance of quality and
reliability of the regular supply chain
Touch-free digitized transactions:
With
the help of evolving digitally enabled food services rapidly, each
stage in the food chain can be enhanced to adapt to a smarter, touchless
operation or quality assurance
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection:
Enhancing
the cleaning process in the food production and serving cycle including
production area, storage, packaging area, transportation, service area,
restrooms and waste disposal area
etc.
Maintaining a business continuity plan:
Companies
will strategise for the post lockdown and recovery phase, streamlining
of internal operations, completing reviews, running e-learning and
e-trainings have emerged as the possible
tools to growth.
Recently, Compass Group India announced the launch of SafeSphereTM
program to provide a safer and healthier workplace. As India prepares to return to office, SafeSphereTM
aims to support organisations in reassuring wellbeing and hygiene of
their employees, through adaptable and customisable program of food,
safety and hygiene solutions.
SafeSphereTM
program
enables Re-imagining workplace food services – scalability, quality of
food, contactless food delivery mechanisms amidst a changing consumer
behaviour making the corporate food
service players re-strategize. SafeSphereTM
,
is a trademarked framework developed in association with fourteen
independent, health, safety and audit specialists across the Asia
Pacific region that offers assurance on the safety
of all interactions with food in the work environment and uses an
operating model with a set of certifiable standards.
