21–30 of 57 posts
I think that making it possible, and encouraging it, is great. Just don't make people feel bad if they decide to spend their lunch time dealing with groceries, paying bills, or going for a walk in the sun.
Exactly. An expectation to perform during personal time is not what the introverts on your team need.
Not vacationing with your team every holiday? You're missing out. Not living with your coworkers? You're missing out. And so on. The atmosphere described in this article seems stifling, almost like a religious service. That doesn't sound like a good way to foster spontaneous interactions. As others have commented, provide an optional lunch that is not mandated, isn't expected, and where people who don't participate a…
The article is about a pretty small, close-knit startup serving a free gourmet lunch by professional chef. I doubt anyone there feels like it's stifling and I doubt anyone is thought less of for occasionally doing their own thing.
Certainly this is a Forbes blog and someone may take the idea and try to force it into an environment inappropriately, but arguing that it can never work seems over the top.
Our team does this once a month, and nobody is obligated. I personally can't stand it even once a month as I am the only vegetarian on the team, so when they are choosing a place to eat, I always feel like I am making them miss out on their favorite Bar-B-Q resturant.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Exactly. An expectation to perform during personal time is not what the introverts on your team need.
Introverted or not, being able to sit down and converse with your teammates is important. I wouldn't want to work with someone who either couldn't or didn't feel it important to do so.
Seems to me there is a great deal of time other than lunch to allow us to bond. Why do some people feel intent on taking my time away to do something they won't give of their time to let me do; as in your meetings are far more important than bonding but my lunch time isn't.
Been there, done that. Its like another management fad that poorly managed companies try to graft unto their dysfunctional culture. They of course fail at it because they don't understand it really is they who are the problem, not the employees.
The only policy we have is of no eating lunch at desks so this gets us all in the same room.
We also have a "Results Only Work Environment" (http://www.gorowe.com) so you're free to do whatever you want, whenever you want, so if you want to get dry cleaning, walk the dog, catch a movie, etc. - you needn't do it over lunch. You can do it whenever.
With folks often out various parts of the day due to ROWE group lunch is sort of an encouragement for everyone to come together and socialize at least once a day.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Exactly. An expectation to perform during personal time is not what the introverts on your team need.
Ugh, seriously. Some of us just want to do our work and go home, not stick around for a company mandated 'happy hour'.
I think the difference lies in who has to pay. If the employee is bringing their lunch or having to pay out of pocket then it may not as go well as if it is paid for by the company. In my eyes, the former is equatable to what you called "mandated 'happy hour'" while the latter is more a way to show appreciation for the work that the employees do.