The Unofficial Office Magnet
At AI platform Sendbird, free Friday Banh mi sandwiches are quietly helping drive the return-to-office movement.
What started as a casual perk has organically turned into a clever—albeit unspoken—strategy to encourage more employees to show up in person. Yeji Yoon, the company’s chief of staff, confirms the simple truth: “Food is definitely a way to keep people or bring people in the office.”
It All Started with a Craving
The tradition didn't come from a top-down corporate directive, but from a much more relatable place: a simple food craving.
- The CFO had a soft spot for Banh mi from a local shop and started ordering for himself on Fridays.
- He'd offer extras to anyone else in the office, and soon the finance team started coming in for the free lunch.
- Word spread, a Slack channel and Google Sheet were born, and the "Banh Mi Friday" tradition was cemented.
Why In-Person Works in the AI Era
According to Yoon, while remote work has its benefits, the game has changed with the rapid evolution of AI. The need for high-speed, dynamic collaboration has become non-negotiable.
The Speed of AI
Products and customer expectations are changing so quickly that real-time, on-the-go collaboration is essential to keep pace.
Iterative Development
The company’s product development and release cycles slow down when people are working remotely, a critical disadvantage in tech.
Spontaneous Brainstorming
Real-time decisions and creative iterations just don’t happen as smoothly over Zoom calls as they do in person.
The Policy vs. The Perk
Sendbird's strategy is a hybrid of formal requirements and informal incentives, recognizing that culture is built through both structure and choice.
The Mandate
Employees are required to be in the office **Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.**
The Nudge
Fridays are optional, but the free sandwiches have made it a popular, voluntary day for collaboration.
The Key Takeaway
Yoon is optimistic that more people will start showing up "organically" five days a week—not through mandates, but through good food and better teamwork. In the new hybrid work world, perks like catered lunches may seem trivial, but they’re proving to be powerful tools. Sometimes, the most effective way back to the office is through the stomach.
