[milge]

Because it's a tax writeoff and the more time workers are at the office, the more work is getting done. Or so the managerial thought process goes.

[distances]

In many European countries it would probably be considered a taxable benefit for the employee, and would increase the employee taxes. Just as a background why some things are different across the pond.

[Analemma_]

It's a taxable benefit in the US too, I'm not sure where the parent's "tax writeoff" comment is coming from. Google actually got in some trouble recently for not reporting their free food to the IRS.

[amscanne]

Presumably he means that it's a cost, therefore paid with pre-tax dollars.

[thaumasiotes]

I'm just saying, I don't think food subsidies look "quite odd" to Americans, I think they look fairly normal.

[mcphage]

It's very unusual outside of Silicon Valley.

[hackuser]

I don't think so - plenty of employers offer free cafeterias, and provide dinner to people working late or weekends.