R U OK? Day falls on Thursday, 10 September 2026, and for the person organising the workplace event, the typical questions usually come quickly: when should it happen, how many people need to be fed, and what type of catering will fit around the working day?
The food is there to support the occasion, not take it over. A shared breakfast or lunch simply gives people a natural reason to stop, sit together, and make space for the conversation.
Burgers, kebabs and BBQ lunches or BBQ breakfast catering are all sensible options, but they suit different types of workplaces in Sydney.
When Is R U OK? Day in 2026?
R U OK? Day 2026 is Thursday, 10 September.
R U OK? describes it as the national day of action, while its broader message for 2026 is “Ask R U OK? Any Day”.
What Catering Works for an R U OK? Day Workplace Event?
There is no single format that suits every workplace.
A breakfast at 7:00 am may make sense for a warehouse or construction team. A CBD office may find a lunchtime service easier. For a workforce spread across shifts, the service window can matter more than the menu itself.
| Catering idea | Can suit | Current menu starting point |
| BBQ breakfast | Early-start teams and morning events | 100 guests |
| BBQ lunch | Outdoor and larger workplace gatherings | Depends on menu |
| Burgers or sliders | Casual staff lunches | 50 guests |
| Kebabs | Weekday workplace lunches | 50 guests |
| Platters and finger food | Meetings or staggered breaks | Depends on selection |
A corporate catering service will perfectly arrange the food for your event based on guest numbers, dietary requirements, access and serving times. Here are some ideas:
1. Start the Day With a BBQ Breakfast
For an early-start team, lunchtime can be awkward. People may be on the road, on different shifts or already deep into the working day.
A BBQ breakfast gives those workplaces another option.
A breakfast menu consisting of bacon, beef sausages, eggs and bread rolls, with juice and bottled water is a relevant format for warehouses, construction sites, logistics operations, manufacturing businesses and larger office teams where employees are already together early in the day.
The timing still needs some thought. A breakfast squeezed into a ten-minute shift change is a very different event from one where people have half an hour to sit together.
2. Hold an Informal Workplace BBQ
A corporate BBQ catering makes sense when there is enough outdoor space and the event needs to accommodate a larger group without turning into a formal lunch.
The advantage is flexibility. Employees can often be served in groups, which may suit a workplace where everybody cannot leave the floor, warehouse or office at the same time.
Space and service access matter here. Before settling on an outdoor BBQ, check where the cooking area can be set up, whether the caterer has straightforward vehicle access, and what happens if the weather changes.
This BBQ catering styles guide goes into more detail about service style, event timing and the differences between BBQ and kebab setups.
3. Serve Burgers or Sliders for a Casual Staff Lunch
For a team lunch, burger catering for 50 employees is a relatively simple format to plan around.
Pick from American beef, Tropicana chicken and peri peri chicken burgers, along with an all-day breakfast burger. Also add three sliders per person plus hot chips, onion rings, pickles and slaw.
This format is more useful when the event is intended to stay casual. People can eat without needing a formal table setting or a long service period.
4. Consider Kebab Catering for a Shared Workplace Lunch
Kebab catering suits a slightly different type of lunch.
A kebab station can be useful where employees are arriving at the service point in waves rather than sitting down together. The corporate kebab booth guide for office events discusses queue flow, service points and office access in more detail.
That operational side is easy to overlook. A menu may suit the headcount perfectly but still be a poor fit if 100 people have only fifteen minutes to get through one service point.
Which Option Suits Your Team Size?
- For around 50 employees, burgers, sliders or catered kebabs fit the current minimum guest numbers.
- For an R U OK? Day event for 100 employees, there is more flexibility. BBQ breakfast, burgers, kebabs or a larger BBQ lunch may all be realistic options depending on the site and schedule.
Once numbers get beyond 100, you should consider how everybody actually will get served on time? And that’s when hiring a Corporate Catering service makes sense.
R U OK? Day Workplace Catering Checklist
A short planning check before booking can prevent most of the obvious problems:
- Confirm the realistic attendance number, not just total staff headcount.
- Decide whether breakfast, lunch or a shorter break fits the working day.
- Collect dietary requirements early.
- Check loading access, cooking space and building restrictions.
- Confirm how long the catering service can run.
- Work out whether tables, chairs or shelter are needed.
- Download or register for the official R U OK? workplace resources.
- Leave enough time for people to eat without rushing straight back to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is R U OK? Day in 2026?
R U OK? Day is Thursday, 10 September 2026. The official R U OK? Organisation also encourages people to ask “are you OK?” throughout the year rather than treating the date as a one-off activity.
What food works for an R U OK? Day workplace event?
That depends mainly on the time of day, staff numbers and how the workplace operates. BBQ breakfast can suit early-start teams, while burgers, kebabs or a BBQ lunch can be easier for a midday event. Finger food and platters may suit shorter or more flexible breaks.
What catering works for an R U OK? Day event with 50 staff?
The Burgers Plus and Kebabs Plus menus both have catered options starting from 50 guests. That makes burgers, sliders and kebabs great starting points for a workplace event of that size.
What can we organise for an R U OK? Day event with 100 employees?
Start with our corporate BBQ breakfast menu. Burgers and kebabs can also accommodate 100 employees.
For 100 people, service timing matters almost as much as menu choice. The organiser should confirm how many people can be served at once and how long the workplace can realistically allow for the event.
Planning an R U OK? Day breakfast, BBQ or team lunch in Sydney? Talk to Parties Plus about corporate catering that fits your staff numbers, workplace schedule and service requirements.
