Inside Doordash's 2026 Workplace Delivery Trends Report

Doordash has published its 2026 workplace delivery trends report, highlighting notable changes in how employees dine and work across companies – especially within high-growth sectors.

The study, which examined delivery data from over 700 companies across 4,800 office locations, reveals a rise in both group and late-night orders, pointing to a broader return to the office and evolving patterns in traditional 9-to-5 work habits.

It also urges companies to consider implementing employee perks – such as meal programmes – to support healthier behaviours in the workplace.

Workplace mealtime collaboration

Doordash reports that large workplace orders have grown 30% faster year-over-year than standard delivery orders, signalling a widespread return to the office across industries.

Research from Hays supports this trend. In its 2026 Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide, Hays found that 45% of professionals now work in a hybrid model, 38% are fully office-based, and only 17% remain remote.

Many major employers are launching comprehensive return-to-office plans – including Microsoft, which recently announced that all employees living within 50 miles of its headquarters must be in the office three days a week starting February 2026.

This requirement marks the first phase of a three-part rollout that will expand across US operations before extending globally, with the goal of a full workforce return.

In an email to employees, Amy Coleman, EVP and Chief People Officer at Microsoft, said the initiative is designed to boost innovation.

She wrote: “In the AI era, we are moving faster than ever, building world-class technology that changes how people live and work, and how organisations everywhere operate.

“If you reflect on our history, the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when we build on each other’s ideas together, in real time.”

Doordash’s research suggests mealtime could be an important driver of such collaboration. The company found that large office orders surged during key planning months – up 33% in March, 30% in September and 34% in December.

The eating habits of fast-growing industries

Doordash also notes that employees at companies in fast-growing industries are increasingly ordering food after hours.

Its research shows that 62% of employees at AI startups have placed delivery orders after 6pm, followed by 48% of banking professionals.

While most industries see their busiest time for lunch orders around noon, AI employees tend to order between five and seven in the evening – suggesting longer working hours.

This aligns with the culture of rapid expansion seen across the AI sector. Andrew Feldman, CEO of AI chip startup Cerebras, remarked on the 20VC podcast in October that extended work hours are vital for success.

He said: “This notion that somehow you can achieve greatness, you can build something extraordinary by working 38 hours a week and having work-life balance, that is mind-boggling to me. It’s not true in any part of life.”

The importance of meal perks

Doordash’s report underscores that providing meal perks can promote healthier eating habits among employees.

Offering sponsored meal programs, it says, encourages better choices – particularly during late-night work periods when less nutritious options are most tempting.

Further research from the Lunch Report supports this, revealing that businesses offering meal perks experience higher in-office attendance, with 58% of hybrid employees saying they would work at least three days onsite if provided with free lunch.