ezCater, the #1 food tech platform for workplaces in the US, released findings from its second annual Future of Workplace Experience Report, revealing that work friendships and meaningful perks are critical to employee retention as return-to-office mandates continue. The report found that hybrid work is employees’ preference, with 59% favoring it over fully remote (32%) or fully on-site (9%) arrangements. Yet stricter return-to-office mandates loom, with 26% of remote and hybrid workers expecting their employers to eventually require a full-time onsite model. For companies, the stakes are high: without incentives, return-to-office mandates create a talent attrition risk. Remote employees required to return without new perks are 27% more likely to actively job hunt. To bring employees to the office, leaders are looking to benefits respondents value most: flexible hours and food perks. “You can’t mandate belonging, but you can design for it,” said Robert Kaskel, VP of People, ezCater. “When organizations invest in bringing employees together, especially over food, they create the connective tissue that strengthens bonds and keeps teams engaged.” Additional findings from ezCater’s 2026 Future of Workplace Experience Report include: Connection drives performance, but it’s becoming harder to cultivate. Employees directly link workplace relationships to business outcomes: 79% report that workplace friendships drive better company results, while 69% say socializing boosts their productivity and loyalty to the company. Yet, workplace friendships are declining compared to last year. In-person experiences turn colleagues into collaborators. 57% of employees see the office of the future as a hub for collaboration rather than…
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