GotVMail's "GotLunch" Program Delivers

With all of the strife people are experiencing due to the economy, it's only natural that we're seeing the resurgence of news stories offering ways to save money on everything from gas to your daily lunch. We'd probably rather forget the circumstances causing us to search for ways to save money, but stories like the one that ran in the Wall Street Journal last week--"Bagging Lunch: The Inflation Effect"--highlight the ways in which employers can step up and help mitigate the effects of the rising cost of living for their employees.

One of the companies featured in the WSJ article was my company, GotVMail. We started GotLunch, a program that gives every employee a $5 daily credit for use towards lunch from a variety of local sandwich shops and delis. Since we don't have a cafeteria in our building and lunch often entails getting in a car and driving to find food, we thought it would make more sense (and save people gas) if employees could just get their lunch close to home and for a lower cost, too.

We get all of this done via our VMeals interface, through which people order their meal for either one or two days or the entire week. The keys to success have been simple:

1. Easy - Online interface accepts credit cards (if employees go over their $5 allowance each day) and is automated, so no manual processing is required. Also, whether you order in the morning or order in advance, lunch is always there.
2. Lots of selection - Hot and cold options in addition to standard salads and sandwiches and from multiple vendors.
3. Free delivery - GotVMail's lunches are individually labeled and dropped off in our kitchen. GotVMail People never pay a delivery fee.

GotVMail's GotLunch program helps in the following ways (besides the obvious benefit of lower cost lunches):

• Lets people use their time how they want to. GotVMail People no longer have to go out to get lunch, and those who get their lunch delivered now have more time to do other stuff like take a walk, catch up with coworkers, or nap on one of the GotVMail couches or chairs (they're really comfortable).
• Gives people more flexible lunch options. Cuts down on the amount of brown bag lunches people have to bring, and offers those who normally bring their own the choice of additional hot lunch options.
• Supports local businesses. GotVMail People choose their lunches from menus offered by local delis and sandwich shops, so we're helping to drive business to other small businesses in the area (many of which are family owned and operated).
• Gives GotVMail People a chance to socialize. Since many people order lunch at the same time and pick it up in the same spot when it is delivered to GotVMail, it always turns into an opportunity to socialize and meet people from many different departments in the company. We've always felt strongly that GotVMail People need this sort of social release to be the productive.

Overall, the response has been extremely positive, and we're proud of the ripple effect it has had on team member morale and local businesses.