And someone else may have been hired as a result. Good for you that you managed to get the benefits you get out of your employer, but at the end of the day it's part of your overall compensation. Me personally? I would rather have higher pay and then I could decide how much I want to spend on food.

I'm looking at it from the basis that employee meals ARE calculated into the overall cost of doing the business, which does affect the rest of your compensation.

I treat my employees like humans, I pay them, they do work, we hang out occasionally. The one thing I don't let them do is walk all over me when it comes to business, because a unprofitable business isn't a business it's a charity.

Nickle and diming occurs whether you like it or not, because at the end of the day that's how a business turns a profit by watching the expenses.

Would you rather have the per diem set for dining out or have it tacked onto your paycheck so you can decide whether you want to go to Chiles or brown bag it?

They also shouldn't be required to act as sugar daddies.... But employees nowadays are more entitled than ever, so it is what it is.

There is no such thing as a free lunch, and when there is it comes with strings attached and a cost of some kind.