system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Workplace cafeterias should not make a profit.

I'm not very knowledgeable about the topic, but worked in a hospital cafeteria in high school. The food they served to staff and guests was (and still is) extremely overpriced, and they always made moves to cut staff hours in favor of profit - even when those extra staff members were helpful. Don't companies already make enough money from other areas? I feel they should charge lower prices for food rather than making money from employees and guests.

I may be convinced of the argument for making enough money for shipping supplies, paying cafeteria workers, etc. Even then, it seems those expenses could come from other areas instead of from the company's own staff. In my experience, however, most workplaces try to make a profit from selling their food, not just pay necessary expenses. CMV Reddit!

Edit: Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll try to respond to you all as soon as I can.

Edit2: Sorry for poor wording. I didn't mean to say say food should be free for employees in the post, just at a reduced price to not make a profit. Then, if food prices truly needed to be high to keep the cafeteria budget neutral, maybe it would be possible to pull profit from other areas in order to provide employees with lower priced food. These were my original thoughts, hope that's more clear now. Thanks for the great discussion.
gpt
In large corporate enterprises each division or group usually had their own budget. The people who run those are typically rewarded in bonuses for the profits they make and staying under budget.

Also, these cafeterias are offered as a time saver IMO. It's like paying more to get something today locally than order.

So the employees can eat sooner and enjoy a longer lunch basically. It's not like they are forced to eat there.

You must also consider if it's owned and operated by said company too. Many times they hire another company. And that one is there to make a profit.

It's something I've been watching due to being in IT. Where we're looked down upon as a cost and not a profit generators.