This might come as a bit of a surprise to you, but most (really all) employees are in it for money. So if you are astonished that people optimize for their financial gain, that’s concerning. That’s why you implement rules.

If you start trying to tease apart the motivations people have even if they are following those rules, you are going to end up more paranoid than Stalin.

> This might come as a bit of a surprise to you

> So if you are astonished that people optimize for their financial gain, that’s concerning.

I’m not “surprised” nor “astonished” nor do you need to be “concerned” for me. That’s unnecessarily condescending.

I’m simply explaining how these generous policies come to and end through abuse.

You are making a point in favor of these policies: Many will see an opportunity for abuse and take it, so employers become more strict.

> but most (really all) employees are in it for money

Yes, but some also have a moral conscience and were brought up to not take more than they need.

If you are not one of these types of people, then not taking complete over advantage of an offer like free meals probably seems like an alien concept.

I try to hire more people like this, it makes for a much stronger workforce when people are not all out to get whatever they can for themselves and look out for each others interests more.