Food Insecurity Affects Employee Performance — And Employers Can Make a Difference
But here's where it gets controversial: food insecurity isn’t just a problem for people without jobs. It affects a surprising share of the workforce, and addressing it at work can boost productivity and engagement, according to new research summarized by the American Psychological Association.
Lead researcher Jason Moy, MS, a doctoral student in organizational behavior at the University of Washington, explains: “There’s a mistaken assumption that hunger primarily harms the unemployed. In reality, a large portion of workers face food insecurity, and leaders who recognize this can help the business as a whole—not just their people.”
Food insecurity means feeling anxious or worried about having enough food to live on. It can drive people to cut back on meals or skip them altogether. In 2023, more than 47 million Americans, about 13% of U.S. households, experienced food insecurity, according to a 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
Prior research has linked food insecurity to higher risks of hypertension, anemia, asthma, anxiety, depression, and sleep and eating disorders.
The new study, published online in the Journal of Applied Psychology, used three experiments to explore how food insecurity impacts work life.
Experiment 1 involved 375 U.S. working adults who had previously faced food insecurity. They were asked to recall either the most recent time they experienced food insecurity or a period when food was readily available. Both groups then described their feelings and behaviors at work that day. Those who recalled food insecurity showed significantly higher anxiety, lower task performance, reduced work engagement, and less willingness to help coworkers.
Experiment 2 tracked 567 U.S. workers who had previously experienced food insecurity as they kept weekly diaries for a month. Participants reporting higher levels of food insecurity in that month also reported higher anxiety and lower task performance and work engagement.
Experiment 3 was a field study in Pakistan with 196 workers who were randomly assigned to receive either a food package or a package of cleaning and hygiene supplies. Those who received food experienced noticeably less anxiety and showed improvements in work performance and task engagement.
The takeaway is clear: companies don’t have to rely solely on nonprofits or government aid to support employees facing food insecurity. Employers can implement practical solutions such as free or discounted food through grocery vouchers, on-site or partner-sponsored food pantries, access to community gardens, or transportation assistance to food banks.
Moy emphasizes that supporting employees facing food insecurity benefits the business too: higher well-being can translate into steadier performance and stronger engagement at work.
Article: “The Effects of Food Insecurity on Work Outcomes” (Journal of Applied Psychology, online Feb. 19, 2026) by Jason HJ Moy, U.S. University of Washington; U.S. and international collaborators.
If you’re a business leader or HR professional, consider this one practical question: which internal program could you pilot this quarter to reduce anxiety and boost productivity for employees facing food insecurity? For example, would your team benefit more from an on-site pantry, a grocery voucher program, or subsidized meals? Share your thoughts in the comments about what has worked (or what could work) in your workplace.
