Cafeterias and catering services operate during a specific time window at lunchtime. People who work early, late, at night, or on weekends—for example, in hospitals, in the healthcare sector, or in manufacturing—often go without a meal. This article explains what labor law provides for, what options are available, and how the FELFEL refrigerator (Smart Fridge) provides meals for teams around the clock. This is general information and does not constitute legal or nutritional advice.
What does labor law say about breaks and meals?
Breaks (Art. 15 ArG): at least a quarter of an hour for work shifts longer than 5½ hours, half an hour for shifts longer than 7 hours, and one hour for shifts longer than 9 hours. According to SECO, breaks are intended for rest and meals. If employees are not permitted to leave their workstation, the break counts as working time.
Breaks at the workplace: A break is considered to have been granted if employees are able to rest and eat under reasonable hygienic conditions. Drinking water must be available near the workplaces (Art. 35 ArGV 3).
Night Work (Art. 16 and 17 of the Labor Act): Night work is generally prohibited. Justified exceptions may be granted.
Protective Measures (Art. 17e of the Labor Act): Any employer who regularly has employees work at night must provide additional protective measures, including rest areas and meal facilities.
Special provisions apply to certain industries, such as hospitals. Please consult your legal advisor or the cantonal labor inspectorate for details.
Sources: SECO, Guidelines on Art. 15 of the Labor Act, SECO, Working Hours and Rest Periods
Freshly cooked meals even at night and on weekends: The FELFEL refrigerator provides meals for shift teams around the clock.
Who doesn't have access to a cafeteria?
Early and late shifts that work before or after business hours
Night shifts, for example in a hospital, in nursing, or in manufacturing
Weekend and On-Call Duties
Teams with fluctuating attendance whose needs are difficult to plan for
What does the research say about nutrition during night shifts?
In a 2024 observational study of 450 healthcare workers, the Healthy Eating Index was lower during the night shift (44.0) than before it (46.1). The authors recommend improving access to healthy food in the workplace. Because the sample is from Turkey, the study’s generalizability is limited. (Navruz-Varlı and Mortaş, 2024)
The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that shift workers eat vegetables, salads, fruits, yogurt, cheese, eggs, and nuts during their shifts, among other things. They should avoid carbohydrates that are high in sugar and low in fiber if they need to stay awake. (NIOSH)
What employers can directly influence: providing good food during work hours.
What kind of meals are best for shift work?
| Criterion | Cafeteria | Catering | Delivery Service | Vending Machine or Mini-Market | FELFEL Fridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outside of lunchtime | Usually no | No | Delivery Windows Only | Yes | Yes, around the clock |
| Advance order required | No | Yes | Often | No | No |
| Fresh Food | Yes | Yes, kept warm | Yes, after transport | Mostly packaged | Freshly cooked, never frozen |
| Costs for Employers | High: Kitchen and Staff | High: Orders per event | Moderate to high | Low | Gering: " FELFEL " takes care of everything |
Freshly cooked meals even at night and on weekends: The FELFEL refrigerator provides meals for shift teams around the clock.
How do you plan meals for night, early morning, and weekend shifts?
Check with the provider to see what's available at 6 a.m., 10 p.m., and on weekends.
Offer light, vegetarian, and vegan options.
Keep drinks and snacks available even between meals.
Set up a dining area away from workstations, as long as business operations allow.
If attendance varies: Choose a plan that doesn't require you to specify the number of people, and use usage data to adjust the plan.
How d FELFEL , provide meals for shift workers and hospital staff?
Around the clock, no advance order required: The refrigerator is accessible at any time.
Freshly cooked, never frozen: meals prepared by Swiss partner chefs, freshly stocked every weekday. We restock whatever is in demand.
Selection: The menus change every week, featuring 10 new dishes each week—vegetarian, vegan, or with meat—along with snacks and drinks.
Easy payment: via app or badge—which can also be linked to your company badge—using, for example, a credit card, TWINT, or Lunch-Check.
No extra effort required: about 1 m² of space and a power connection. FELFEL handles installation, refilling, cleaning, maintenance, and recycling.
Personal Support: Daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at German, French(in Italian), and English.
Restocking takes place in the morning on weekdays. You can work with FELFEL to plan the product assortment for evening, night, and weekend shifts at your location. A real-world example: How Triemli implemented 24/7 employee catering.
This way, even companies with shift work can offer all employees freshly prepared meals without having to operate their own cafeteria and without creating additional work for HR. You can read more about this under “Employee Meals” and in the article “How Much Does a Company Cafeteria Cost?”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you provide meals for employees working the night shift?
With a service that's available around the clock and doesn't require advance ordering—for example, the FELFEL Smart Fridge. Find out what's actually available during off-peak hours.
Is an employer required to provide meals for night work?
According to the Labor Act (Art. 17e ArG), any employer who regularly has employees working at night must provide additional protective measures, including meal options. Please consult your legal advisor or the labor inspectorate to determine what this means for your business.
Is " FELFEL " also available for hospitals?
Yes. The Stadtspital Triemli in Zurich, for example, provides meals to its employees around the clock via FELFEL.
Will the " FELFEL " refrigerator be stocked over the weekend?
The FELFEL refrigerator is restocked on weekdays and is accessible 24/7, even on weekends. To find out how the product selection for weekend shifts is planned, please contact FELFEL for your location.
Where can I see which dishes are currently available?
You can find the current weekly menu at felfel.ch. The menus change every week.
Round-the-clock meals for your team?
FELFEL is the alternative to the cafeteria: a Swiss family-owned business that delivers freshly prepared meals from partner chefs and small-scale producers to the workplace via the FELFEL fridge. The meals are available around the clock, even for shift and night crews, and no advance order is required. Since 2013, over 1,000 companies throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein have relied on FELFEL.