January Workplace Insights and Trends Fresh Out the Pantry

Driven by widespread industry layoffs and large investments in artificial intelligence, perks culture has taken a hit. Gone are the days when tech giants like Google and Facebook are wowing employees with over-the-top perks such as massages, on-site haircuts, and vast cafeterias. Does that mean employers are not invested in the workplace experience anymore? 

We would answer that employers still very much care about the workplace experience. Now, before you come at us thinking we're paid by Big Corporate–and OK maybe we are, as we support the workplace experience of some of the most well-known brands–let us explain! 

• In Person: Flashy perks like the ones we mentioned make work the center of your life. Not only are you getting your work done at the office, but then you are getting ALL the other things you need personally at the office. Therefore, there are no boundaries.
• Remote: Now, if you look at remote work, it's the same. When your work and your life share the same physical space, the lines between each can easily become blurred. Studies show that ‍67% of people working remotely feel pressure to be available at all hours of the day. Again, no boundaries. 

The thing we learned from having lived both experiences is that boundaries are essential if you want your team to be happier and more likely to stick around. In fact, 57% of employee said their work-life balance improved as a result of setting professional boundaries. 

So it's not that employers are not investing in the workplace experience, it's that they are investing differently to better support their team where it counts. What does this mean? We'll tell you! 

The tea: Practicality is the name of the game in 2025, and employees want perks that support their everyday routines. No one, except maybe the celebrity you see on Instagram, is getting a massage or a haircut every single day, so you don't need those types of perks in your office. 

Instead, you need perks that support the things your employees do all the time. Here's a quick list: 

• Quiet Spaces: Employees want a few quiet areas that they can work in to get stuff done, and perks that would fit that need are private desks, phone booths, quiet lounge areas, quiet rooms, etc. 
• Meeting Rooms: Your team needs somewhere to meet, and you may want to have some options such as conference rooms, brainstorming rooms, areas for all-hands, demonstration areas, etc. 
• Caffeine Boost: Fun fact, 80% of the world consumes caffeine daily. All you need is an office coffee station to support them.
• Everyone's Gotta Eat: Having the vast cafeteria is great if you can afford it, but let's be real, it's not practical in a hybrid world. A curated office pantry is enough to fuel employees throughout the day and you can supplement with catered lunches.
• Hydrate: In between snacking your team needs to stay hydrated and having a variety of water and other office drink options can be a game-changer. When you're thirsty, you're likely not as productive because being thirsty can impair your cognitive function, energy levels, and focus.
• Technology: Nothing is worse than showing up to the office and the technology or WiFi not working. At the bare minimum, it needs to work, or there is no reason to even be there. 

Long story short, employees want workplace perks that enhance their productivity and well-being, not distract from them.

Sweet treats have long been a staple in the office pantry, but they’re about to get a major upgrade. The sweet protein movement is gaining traction, with companies like Oobli leading the charge. Their star product, monellin, is a sweet protein derived from the serendipity berry in West Africa. It’s 2,000 times sweeter than sugar but without the health risks. Thanks to a precision fermentation process, Oobli can replace up to 70% of sugar in foods and beverages with this sweet protein, delivering all the sweetness with none of the downsides.

The alternative sweetener market is projected to hit $14.71 billion by 2029, and sweet proteins like monellin are poised to play a big role in this growth. As employees become more conscious of their health and wellness, they’re looking for office snacks that taste great without the sugar crash. Sweet proteins could be the perfect solution for your office pantry.

The tea: If you want to experiment with sweet protein alternatives, here’s how to approach it:

• Look at Your Data: Use office pantry consumption data (like from the Crafty Platform) to pinpoint opportunities. See which snacks are over and underperforming, and get a sense of what types of taste preferences your team is leaning toward. If protein-packed bars are flying off the shelves, that’s your cue to try to incorporate protein into other categories.
• Start Small: When introducing these options, don’t go overboard. Focus on one category at a time and bring in one or two new products at most. Variety packs of these better-for-you options could be great as they are more affordable and allow employees to try more flavors of that item. 
• Analyze the Results: Once your new options are in place, keep an eye on the data. You may find that they don’t perform as well as expected, or you may discover they’re a hit. Either way, you’ll have valuable insights that help guide future decisions.

The beauty of testing out healthier alternatives is that it keeps your pantry fresh while sparking conversation in the workplace.