Nvidia, unlike other big tech companies, does not provide free meals in its cafeteria and instead runs a subsidy system, it was reported.

Business Insider reported on June 30 that Nvidia covers some meal prices but keeps a structure in which employees pay part of the cost.

A recent post on X by software engineer and industry analyst Gergely Orosz renewed attention on the level of Nvidia’s in-house benefits. The post pointed out that not all snacks and coffee at Nvidia are free. Accounts from former employees followed.

Two former employees said cafeteria meals are not free but are subsidised. They said some drinks, such as coffee, are free, but certain bottled drinks and beverages bought at an in-house cafe are paid.

Former employees said this operating model differs from benefit policies that were once expanded competitively in Silicon Valley. They said while rivals tried to keep employees in the office longer with free meals, gyms and large campuses, Nvidia has maintained a culture that puts the work itself ahead of lavish benefits.

One former employee said Jensen Huang (젠슨 황), Nvidia’s chief executive officer, seemed to believe that work and fun should be kept separate. The former employee said the company had no perks such as a ping-pong table, an in-house gym or massages.

Another former employee said Huang wanted employees to be able to achieve their life’s work and believed a healthy balance was needed for that. The former employee said other workplaces where everything is free encourage staff to stay in the office as long as possible, but Nvidia held exactly the opposite philosophy.

There was also testimony that frugality did not stop with the meal policy. Another former employee said frugality is deeply rooted in Nvidia’s DNA. The former employee added that hardware companies have traditionally operated with much lower margins than software companies. The former employee said this culture was reflected in how executives operated, with vice president-level executives flying economy and following a practice of not having dedicated secretaries. The former employee said this is linked to an internal “one team” culture of equality.

Employees did not see the policies as a major problem, it was said. One former employee said there were many interesting things happening inside the company at the time, so this was not a big issue in practice. The former employee added that as long as they could eat quickly and get back to their desk, food was the last concern.

A broader pullback in perks is also spreading across big tech. Amazon and Apple also do not provide free meals. Google continues to run chef-prepared meals and snack areas, while Meta is said to be trying to improve pantry areas amid internal morale issues.

As a result, Nvidia’s approach has become harder to view as merely an unusual case as in the past. With expanding investment in artificial intelligence and a push for cost control combining, big tech is showing signs of cutting in-house benefits and placing greater emphasis on operating efficiency. Nvidia is again drawing attention for having chosen frugal operations and a work-centred culture over lavish perks earlier than this broader trend.