One in four Greek employees receives meal allowance, survey finds

A significant portion of Greece's workforce, approximately one in four employees, currently receives meal allowances from their employers, according to a new survey by IME GSEEBE and Edenred. The research, titled "Meal Allowance: Usage and Perceptions Survey," highlights the growing role of meal vouchers and cards as a tool to boost employee income and assist businesses in attracting and retaining staff.

The study reveals that 23.1% of employees receive meal benefits, either regularly or occasionally. For the vast majority of these recipients (87.5%), the allowance amount falls below the current tax-exempt threshold. The survey also indicates a strong reliance on these benefits for daily needs, with 95.7% of employees using them for supermarket purchases, and 92.4% spending the largest portion of their allowance at these stores. Furthermore, 64.7% of beneficiaries exhaust their allowance within the first ten days of receiving it.

Employees who receive meal allowances largely view them as a crucial benefit. Over 73% consider it quite or very important, with more than half (52.7%) stating it allows them to allocate more funds to food purchases. Additionally, 50% report that it reduces financial stress related to food expenses, and 55.4% describe it as a practical solution for their daily nutrition. If the allowance amount were doubled, 50.5% of employees would purchase more groceries for home cooking, while 33.7% could cover a daily meal without worrying about depleting the funds.

For businesses, the potential for increased tax incentives could significantly influence their decision to offer meal benefits. Seven out of ten companies that do not currently provide such allowances indicated they would reconsider if additional tax incentives were introduced. While 52.2% of employees are aware of the meal allowance system, a substantial 73.1% are unaware of the specific tax regulations governing it. Among those not currently receiving the benefit, 40.2% believe it would free up more money for other expenses, and 33.3% think it would ease their financial difficulties until the end of the month.