from what I understand, there is a similar measure underway in Mountain View as well
SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
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Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#12Do they think that workplace cafeterias summon fully-prepared meals from the aether? Those places employ cooks and purchase wholesale food just like restaurants do. FFS, San Francisco.
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#13It seems that ultimately this just subsidizes the commercial real-estate owners.
1) Force companies to not have free cafeterias
2) Workers have to buy lunch from local businesses
3) Restaurant Location becomes more valuable given the large number of workers forced to find lunch and buy it.
4) Raise rents on restaurants because space is now more valuable, since it is basically subsidized by nearby tech companies.
5) Restaurants pay higher rent, landlords make more $$, due to California Property Tax policy, landlords do not have to pay proportional additional property tax on their now more valuable property.
The reason something like this is considered speaks to the power of commercial real estate to shape policy for their own benefit.
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#14To the extent that discouraging this practice is useful, a tax seems more sensible than a zoning ban; a zoning ban, by effectively grandfathering incumbents, is basically a barrier to new entrants competing (if on-site cafeterias didn't have a business function, firms wouldn't spend money on them) with incumbents (whether for talent, or on productivity if food in-house contributes to that.) A tax can internalize whatever negative externalities are seen from the practice in a manner which neither prohibits use of existing investments nor creates an unfair preference for incumbents.
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#15Won’t this make it harder for newer businesses to compete for hires? Ie ones that haven’t already built kitchens in the office? It’s a nice benefit to be able to grab a free lunch (saving thousands a year) or take a to-go box home.
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#16also an effort to fuck catering companies or contingent workers who work in these large cafeterias. what an idiotic and arbitrary restriction of the fundamental human right to eat where/what we want
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#17[deleted]
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Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#18Won’t this make it harder for newer businesses to compete for hires? Ie ones that haven’t already built kitchens in the office? It’s a nice benefit to be able to grab a free lunch (saving thousands a year) or take a to-go box home.
Wouldn't be surprised to find if you dig deep enough you'll find this motivation behind the scenes promoting the proposal (though it probably originates in the restaurant industry.)
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#19Banning workplace cafeterias is a good start, but really the solution they should be discussing is banning workplaces.
The workers at tech companies like Twitter and AirBNB are known to have access to working in their own buildings, which deprives nearby cafes of the dollars they could be spending buying a single espresso and then working for 9 hours.
Re: SF Supervisors Move to Ban Workplace Cafeterias
#20Sounds like a great way to drive businesses away from your city. Penny wise, pound foolish.