Advertising giant WPP is offering free-lunch Fridays to help fill the office as its RTO policy upsets some staff

• Ad giant WPP offers free Friday lunches to encourage office return amid its new RTO policy.
• The policy requires employees to work in-office four days per week, including two Fridays per month.
• WPP said the free lunches are not connected to an employee petition protesting the RTO policy.

Advertising giant WPP hopes to encourage staff to return to the office by promising free lunch on Fridays as it fights employee discontent over its RTO policy.

A WPP spokesperson told Business Insider complimentary lunches on Fridays were introduced at the company's UK-based campuses this month.

On Saturday, The Times reported that the free lunch at WPP's South Bank office in London offered beef ragù, garlic bread, and a spring salad.

The spokesperson told BI it was one of several perks being offered to help foster an appealing work environment for employees coming into the office. They did not confirm whether the free lunches would be permanent.

The initiative comes soon after over 20,000 people signed a petition expressing unhappiness at WPP's recent RTO mandate.

WPP's new rules have been controversial among employees, who were told by chief executive Mark Read that they now have to come into the office four times a week and commit to coming in two Fridays a month.

The memo, obtained by BI in January, was sent to 114,000 employees.

Read said that in-office attendance was associated with "stronger employee engagement, improved client survey scores, and better financial performance."

"I believe that we do our best work when we are together in person," he wrote. "It's easier to learn from each other, it's a better way to mentor colleagues starting out in the industry, and it helps us win pitches as a truly integrated team."

The petition, in contrast, described the policy as a "step backwards in supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance."

"The mental and social effects on employees due to such rigid work regimes can be extensive," it said.

"Therefore, we call on Mark Read and the decision-making body at WPP to reconsider this mandate and adopt a policy that respects and prioritises the well-being and preferences of its employees."

Some staffers' complaints added in comments include the additional hours of traveling per day and the added expenses of commuting to and from the office.

WPP's spokesperson told BI the free lunch initiative was planned independently of the petition.

Employees have had mixed responses to RTO policies. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told all corporate employees they had to be in the office five days a week. Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, and JPMorgan have followed suit.

While critics say the strict policies can erode trust and cause friction between management and staff, others have a more positive view. Gen Z, for example, may strongly benefit from being physically in the workplace, finding it useful for making contacts and socializing after having had their formative years disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, according to one 2024 survey, around three-quarters of Gen Z and about 50% of other generations said that hybrid working is their ideal setup, with more autonomy and flexibility helping to abate burnout and foster a better work-life balance.