Corporate Cafeterias Survive Proposed Legislation to Zone Them Out of Existence

Representatives of kitchen workers and restaurant supply companies came out to oppose an ordinance which would have blocked the construction of corporate cafeterias in San Francisco. "The commission voted 5-0 to recommend against the proposed ordinance, which would amend the San Francisco Planning Code to prohibit new 'employee cafeterias within office space,'" J. K. Dineen writes for the San Francisco Chronicle. The planners said there might be a more subtle solution to the issue of these exclusive cafeterias, suggesting that future corporate eateries be required to be on the ground floor and accessible to the public.

"But critics say the cafeterias hurt local restaurants and exacerbate the gap between ordinary and well-paid tech workers, who can take advantage of office perks such as all-you-can-eat sushi, in-house laundry service and yoga," Dineen reports. Some countered that if these cafeterias became illegal, future businesses would simply find other incentives to offer.