WeWork will no longer reimburse employees’ meat meals

[goldengirlz]

I’m not sure how I feel about this one:

www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2018/07/16/wework-takes-meat-off-the-menu-as-part-of-environmental-policy-drive/amp/


The new internal policy was reported on Friday by Bloomberg which obtained a company memo in which co-founder Miguel McKelvey revealed the policy, writing: “New research indicates that avoiding meat is one of the biggest things an individual can do to reduce their personal environmental impact — even more than switching to a hybrid car.”

A WeWork spokeswoman confirmed the new policy to us — which specifically removes red meat, poultry and pork from company menus and expenses policy. Though she emphasized that the company is not prohibiting WeWork staff or members from bringing in meat-based meals they’ve paid for themselves.

[lemoncupcake]

That seems tricky to enforce because of people’s dietary/medical needs - not to mention how hard it would be to effectively manage. It’s not like most restaurant receipts accurately list all ingredients of any given dish.

eta: those comments were referring to expensing meals, like when employees are on work travel. Them not proving meat based meals for work events, etc. is easier for me to imagine since people will be at their own office/in their own town with easy alternatives to get the food that they might require.  

[mskitkat]

I wonder how this works when you take a customer/client out to eat. Do you have to tell them to order vegetarian? If they don’t, does the employee get screwed?

[Michael Scott]

Jul 17, 2018 13:40:55 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

That seems tricky to enforce because of people’s dietary/medical needs - not to mention how hard it would be to effectively manage. It’s not like most restaurant receipts accurately list all ingredients of any given dish.

Is there a diet/medical need that requires meat?

I agree it will probably be hard to manage but it sounds like this is impacting what the company is already offering (free lunch, workplace events) that would be managed by the company itself. 

[goldengirlz]

I can certainly see not serving it. Having your employer serve you three gourmet meals per day is one of those strange tech benefits that most people outside the bubble don’t expect.

But not reimbursing it is another story.

[mrsd2006]

Pretty much all I eat is meat so I will not be working there anytime soon.

[UMaineTeach]

Several reactions
1. you do you, whatever
2. Hope this doesn’t catch on
3. Trying to come up with ways this is different than alcohol. Not much luck, but it seems different
4. There are good sustainable fisheries and poorly managed fisheries. Seems wrong to say all fish is fine.
5. Why not go vegan?
6. Why not stop meal reimbursement rather than policing what people eat?
7. Whatever, I guess.

[winecat]

Keto started as a diet to treat epilepsy.

It seems like veg/vegan low carb diets are more difficult to accommodate. IME a lot of restaurant prepared veg/vegan dishes are carb heavy which can be problematic for diabetics.

[icedcoffee]

Hmmm...I'm not sure if there's a diet that would require meat. Probably not. But...my H who has celiac would have a hell of a time finding food he could eat that would keep him full. A lot of vegetarian menus end up being very carb heavy and if you can't have the carbs then.....

And before people start listing the millions of ways you can be vegetarian and gluten free, I know that, but the truth is that's a lot easier to do when cooking at home than at restaurants which tend to lean to carbs on the vegetarian menu.

I see what they're trying to achieve here and I appreciate it, but I'm not 100% sure this is the best way to do it.

ETA:  I do think restaurants in general need to improve their vegetarian menus. My SIL only eats meat at home and some of her vegetarian meals are very sad at restaurants. Very rarely do I see really awesome vegetarian selections on menus.

[msmerymac]

1) Even though I now eat meat, I have no problem with this. There are many, many interesting dishes and types of cuisine that use little meat.

2) They'll still allow seafood. You can certainly make the argument that seafood is as bad, if not worse, than larger mammals, due to overfishing and ocean pollution. BUT it certainly fulfills a dietary need for those who can't eat anything else.

If someone really has issues that might prevent them from eating a meat-free diet (IBS or Crohns comes to mind), I'm sure they pre-plan their meals and bring things they can actually eat, much like most vegans or diabetics, really.

[yaga]

Jul 17, 2018 13:47:45 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

honest question (coming from someone who doesn't eat meat) - are there dietary/medical needs that require people to eat meat?

eta:  jinx Michael Scott , 

I don't need meat in my diet, but I have a stomach condition that at times prevents me from eating most high-fiber foods (aka salads, meals based around beans or lentils). Grilled chicken is usually the main thing I eat. Pasta is obviously a great option in my case, but this is a food I try to avoid because of the calories. 

If I worked in one of their offices, I would probably just not rely on their food options for lunch. I pack my lunch a lot now because it's hard to find places with what I can/want to eat anyway. 

[Michael Scott]

Jul 17, 2018 13:56:25 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Hmmm...I'm not sure if there's a diet that would require meat. Probably not. But...my H who has celiac would have a hell of a time finding food he could eat that would keep him full. A lot of vegetarian menus end up being very carb heavy and if you can't have the carbs then.....

And before people start listing the millions of ways you can be vegetarian and gluten free, I know that, but the truth is that's a lot easier to do when cooking at home than at restaurants which tend to lean to carbs on the vegetarian menu.

I see what they're trying to achieve here and I appreciate it, but I'm not 100% sure this is the best way to do it.

I think that's completely valid; however, I think a public spark has to start somewhere. I'm comparing this to cigarette bans/tax. I think the interesting/hopeful part is that you said it's easier to do when cooking at home which leads to the belief that if there was more buy-in we'd see a lot more options and transparency from retailers that the public can trust. 

[StrawberryBlondie]

I don't think there's a diet that requires meat, but it seems like this would be non-optimal for people with celiac, epilepsy, diabetes, or anemia. Or pregnant people with food issues/aversions.

[PinkSquirrel]

Jul 17, 2018 13:57:37 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

If someone really has issues that might prevent them from eating a meat-free diet (IBS or Crohns comes to mind), I'm sure they pre-plan their meals and bring things they can actually eat, much like most vegans or diabetics, really.

How does someone who eats meat pre-plan their meals when traveling for business and going out to eat with others?   
      

[AndyCohen]

My main complaint is that sales people are probably going to just start footing the bill themselves. How do you take a client out and then tell them they can’t order meat?

Also I think employees will probably start going out for lunch more instead of staying at their desks and getting work done. If the company feels that’s an ok trade for a meat-free office, meh.

[msmerymac]

Jul 17, 2018 14:03:00 GMT -5 PinkSquirrel said:

Jul 17, 2018 13:57:37 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

If someone really has issues that might prevent them from eating a meat-free diet (IBS or Crohns comes to mind), I'm sure they pre-plan their meals and bring things they can actually eat, much like most vegans or diabetics, really.

How does someone who eats meat pre-plan their meals when traveling for business and going out to eat with others?   
      

Jerky. A can of tuna. Check the menu at a restaurant you'll be going to. I don't know. What do people normally eat? Just bring that. 

Again, people who DON'T eat meat do this ALL THE TIME. They eat before they go somewhere. They bring seasonings they can tolerate. They ask the chef to throw together a combination of a few sides on the menu for them. 

Adults can handle their own diets, IMO.

[msmerymac]

Jul 17, 2018 14:05:08 GMT -5 AndyCohen said:

My main complaint is that sales people are probably going to just start footing the bill themselves. How do you take a client out and then tell them they can’t order meat?

Also I think employees will probably start going out for lunch more instead of staying at their desks and getting work done. If the company feels that’s an ok trade for a meat-free office, meh.

It's a bay area company, right? Plenty of trendy vegan restaurants, sushi places, south Indian restaurants...

[AndyCohen]

Jul 17, 2018 14:01:00 GMT -5 yaga said:

Jul 17, 2018 13:47:45 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

honest question (coming from someone who doesn't eat meat) - are there dietary/medical needs that require people to eat meat?

eta:  jinx Michael Scott , 

I don't need meat in my diet, but I have a stomach condition that at times prevents me from eating most high-fiber foods (aka salads, meals based around beans or lentils). Grilled chicken is usually the main thing I eat. Pasta is obviously a great option in my case, but this is a food I try to avoid because of the calories. 

If I worked in one of their offices, I would probably just not rely on their food options for lunch. I pack my lunch a lot now because it's hard to find places with what I can/want to eat anyway. 

You can’t BRING meat into the office. I know someone who works there.

ETA: I read the article and they must be tweaking the policy because it says you can bring in meat. I know my friend was told they can’t when the policy first came through.

[susiebw]

I don't know what WeWork is.

[AndyCohen]

Jul 17, 2018 14:06:10 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jul 17, 2018 14:05:08 GMT -5 AndyCohen said:

My main complaint is that sales people are probably going to just start footing the bill themselves. How do you take a client out and then tell them they can’t order meat?

Also I think employees will probably start going out for lunch more instead of staying at their desks and getting work done. If the company feels that’s an ok trade for a meat-free office, meh.

It's a bay area company, right? Plenty of trendy vegan restaurants, sushi places, south Indian restaurants...

Maybe? My friend works there and they are in Nyc so it’s not just Bay Area.

[yaga]

Jul 17, 2018 14:06:10 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jul 17, 2018 14:05:08 GMT -5 AndyCohen said:

My main complaint is that sales people are probably going to just start footing the bill themselves. How do you take a client out and then tell them they can’t order meat?

Also I think employees will probably start going out for lunch more instead of staying at their desks and getting work done. If the company feels that’s an ok trade for a meat-free office, meh.

It's a bay area company, right? Plenty of trendy vegan restaurants, sushi places, south Indian restaurants...

WeWork is an office space that anyone can work at - and they are all over the US and even international. 

[audette]

Jul 17, 2018 13:47:45 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

honest question (coming from someone who doesn't eat meat) - are there dietary/medical needs that require people to eat meat?

eta:  jinx Michael Scott , 

Sort of.  Anemia can be helped by eating red meat.  Certain types of lifting/weight training/etc are best matched with a high protein diet, and not having meat really limits the options for getting in sufficient protein.

I'm doing gluten free right now, and that limits a fair number of food options.  Meat has become more common in my diet because I have to avoid other things due to possible gluten cross-contamination.

[jenikate]

Jul 17, 2018 13:51:36 GMT -5 winecat said:

Keto started as a diet to treat epilepsy.

It seems like veg/vegan low carb diets are more difficult to accommodate. IME a lot of restaurant prepared veg/vegan dishes are carb heavy which can be problematic for diabetics.

I'm a vegetarian, but have to eat low(ish) carb to control my pre-diabetes. Eating out generally proves very difficult for me because like you mentioned dishes tend to be very carb heavy.

In general, I don't have a problem with this policy, if they will accommodate people's medically necessary dietary requirements. My company will not order catering that fits my needs so I do have to bring my own food in for meetings and other events.

[msmerymac]

Jul 17, 2018 14:07:45 GMT -5 yaga said:

Jul 17, 2018 14:06:10 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

It's a bay area company, right? Plenty of trendy vegan restaurants, sushi places, south Indian restaurants...

WeWork is an office space that anyone can work at - and they are all over the US and even international. 

I'm aware. I've worked at a coworking space, though not WeWork. 

This policy will mainly affect their corporate employees, who are likely based in the Bay Area. While they have staff in other cities, the community manager isn't likely taking high-powered investors out to lunch, so I think that's a moot argument.

However, coworking spaces sometimes provide lunch, happy hours, etc to the people who "work" there. That's a take-it-or-leave-it type thing, IMO. You can simply make other lunch plans. If you work out of the WeWork space you are not their employee and you are not getting reimbursed by them for meals you are eating with your own clients, so it's not a policy that affects that at all.

[goldengirlz]

Jul 17, 2018 14:07:05 GMT -5 susiebw said:

I don't know what WeWork is.

It’s a company that runs co-working spaces in a number of cities. So if someone needs to rent an office for whatever reason (think freelancer or entrepreneur), they have a place to go that’s relatively reasonable. It’s an alternative to working from home/coffee shops, especially if you need a place to meet clients or just prefer an office-type environment.

[aurora]

Jul 17, 2018 14:01:40 GMT -5 Michael Scott said:

Jul 17, 2018 13:56:25 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Hmmm...I'm not sure if there's a diet that would require meat. Probably not. But...my H who has celiac would have a hell of a time finding food he could eat that would keep him full. A lot of vegetarian menus end up being very carb heavy and if you can't have the carbs then.....

And before people start listing the millions of ways you can be vegetarian and gluten free, I know that, but the truth is that's a lot easier to do when cooking at home than at restaurants which tend to lean to carbs on the vegetarian menu.

I see what they're trying to achieve here and I appreciate it, but I'm not 100% sure this is the best way to do it.

I think that's completely valid; however, I think a public spark has to start somewhere. I'm comparing this to cigarette bans/tax. I think the interesting/hopeful part is that you said it's easier to do when cooking at home which leads to the belief that if there was more buy-in we'd see a lot more options and transparency from retailers that the public can trust. 

I don't think it's fair to compare to cigarettes, which have no health benefits and directly negative health impacts on people around you. Humans evolved to eat small quantities of meat - not that we need to, but it is indisputable that most humans can derive nutritional benefits from meat.

All of that said, I don't really have a problem with a company deciding it's not going to provide meat to its employees (with the caveat that if there are true medical needs those should be exempted).

[WanderingWinoZ]

I guess that's fine if that's what they want to do, but seems like there could be other areas to make a larger environmental impact...
are they recycling at all their offices?
using energy efficient appliance and HVAC?
solar?

they have 6K employees...since it's something like a "perk" of working there, I'm fine with them being able to direct how that benefit works (no meat)
But for things like employees are traveling / being forced to eat away from home or taking out clients, there should be exemptions.

[icedcoffee]

This reminds me that one of my client's kept their office kosher so they didn't allow meat in the office so I guess it's not all that uncommon.

[ESF]

They are going to get hit with a lawsuit if they are not doing anything to accommodate health issues.

[lemoncupcake]

Jul 17, 2018 13:46:28 GMT -5 Michael Scott said:

Jul 17, 2018 13:40:55 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

That seems tricky to enforce because of people’s dietary/medical needs - not to mention how hard it would be to effectively manage. It’s not like most restaurant receipts accurately list all ingredients of any given dish.

Is there a diet/medical need that requires meat?

I agree it will probably be hard to manage but it sounds like this is impacting what the company is already offering (free lunch, workplace events) that would be managed by the company itself. 

I was thinking what some others said about people who need to eat fewer carbs, and potentially have an alllergy (dairy, gluten, legumes) that are often found as the primary protein source of vegetarian dishes.