Sharebite Data Shows Corporate Meal Orders Doubled on Saturdays and Up 57% After Hours in Q1 2026

Corporate meal orders on Saturdays more than doubled in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to data from Sharebite, a meal benefits and delivery platform. Orders placed after 6 pm on weekdays and weekends rose 57% over that time, while overall user growth increased 36%.

Business Insider reported these findings suggest workers are logging more hours outside traditional times, potentially tied to AI adoption.

Sharebite, founded in 2015, serves several hundred clients mainly in tech and finance. Rao added that activity is extending later into the day and into weekends, drawing a connection to the AI boom. Atlassian announced mass layoffs earlier in 2026, citing AI as a factor.

Block announced mass layoffs earlier in 2026, also referencing AI. Snap announced mass layoffs earlier in 2026, with AI mentioned as a common element in these workforce adjustments. Atlassian, Block, and Snap cited AI as a common factor in their 2026 mass layoffs, according to Business Insider.

The report noted that these companies adjusted their workforces due to the technology's impact on efficiency. A study published in the Harvard Business Review in February 2026 found that employees who use AI take on a broader range of tasks and put in longer hours than those who don’t. This aligns with Sharebite's observations of increased off-hours activity.

U.S. tech company. The UC Berkeley report observed that employees multitasked more, took on broader responsibilities, and worked longer hours.

A 2025 report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research linked greater AI exposure to longer work hours and reduced leisure time. The National Bureau of Economic Research report stated that AI complements human labor rather than replacing it.

The surge in late-night and weekend orders echoes the Pentagon Pizza Theory, which originated in the early 1990s and is often credited to a pizza shop owner.

This theory posits that spikes in food deliveries to government buildings signal overtime work ahead of major events. He emphasized that the trends underscore the essential role of human talent amid AI adoption. Research from multiple sources, including the Harvard Business Review and UC Berkeley, supports the idea that AI is stretching professionals' workloads rather than reducing them.

The National Bureau of Economic Research's findings further indicate that AI's complementary nature leads to expanded responsibilities and extended hours.