4 ms·

> No matter how I try to justify that this difference doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, the truth is that, having the option to eat lunch at office

> No matter how I try to justify that this difference doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, the truth is that, having the option to eat lunch at office & availability of on-demand snacks throughout the day has boosted my productivity. Must be nice. My company hasn't provided free breakfast, lunch or dinner in years.

sethammons 7y ago
My experience says that a communal lunch is extremely valuable in building a sense of community. Companies can get a better cohesive workforce by providing lunch options that bring people together.
- brokenmachine 7y ago
  Personally I don't care what food they're offering. I need to GTFO and have some time to myself. 8 hours is a long time.
  - t34543 7y ago
    I always skip catered meals for the same reason. I cannot stand forced socialization. Brain must turn off for a bit, and socializing is hard work (for me).
    - C1sc0cat 7y ago
      Then is that not something you should focus on as part of your development? I have done that in the past when a very good developer was working on some cool tech I suggested that he present to our team meeting.
      - catacombs 7y ago
        > I have done that in the past when a very good developer was working on some cool tech I suggested that he present to our team meeting. Oh, god. My introverted self wants to slap you.
        C1sc0cat 7y ago
        If you don't push yourself outside your comfort zone you wont grow - Oh and you will get taken advantage off and have worse career progression.
        catacombs 7y ago
        I'm an introvert and doing just fine, thank you very much. The fact you assume one needs to get out of his or her comfort zone or they will "get taken advantage off" and have "worse career progression" is too broad of a brushstroke.
        t34543 7y ago
        Introverts unite.
        brokenmachine 7y ago
        Let's not and say we did.
        catacombs 7y ago
        Can we do this in an email?
        brokenmachine 7y ago
        >If you don't push yourself outside your comfort zone you wont grow - Oh and you will get taken advantage off and have worse career progression. Or, he's more likely progress to a job where there is no patronizing idiot trying to ham-fistedly force him into non-work related socialization. Seriously, don't people like that have their own lives they want to live? I have way too little free time to waste it talking to people I spend 8 hours per day with already. There's plenty of time to talk to those people during work hours, at least I get paid during those hours as well.
        C1sc0cat 7y ago
      - t34543 7y ago
        I’m not interested in socializing. I’ll take the career hit - when I am in a social job I feel dread. When I’m heads down I’m happy to come to work.
  - saiya-jin 7y ago
    I gladly exchange empty blah-blah time about yesterday evening/weekend/whatever for a workout session during lunch. Eating by the desk if very much fine by me, it matters more to me what is on the plate (ie veggies, salads and avoiding junkfood generally). And its a great time to turn off the brain and focus just on exercise.
    - m0zg 7y ago
      Protip: schedule your workouts ~2 hours after lunch. This achieves 2 things: staves off the afternoon mental fog, and ensures that the nutrients in your bloodstream go towards something useful.
jandeboevrie 7y ago
Why don't you make bread (lunch) in the morning and take it with you? Just like 99% of other people in the developed world.
- navigatesol 7y ago
  Right? Some of the comments here make it seem like we're on different planets. "Can't work without on-demand snacks!" Silicon Valley has definitely "branded" their employment, and millennial are buying in. Meanwhile, young people are burning themselves out at unprecedented rates.
  - catacombs 7y ago
    > Meanwhile, young people are burning themselves out at unprecedented rates. Indeed. And they aren't making enough money to buy a home. Then, people, mostly boomers, will wonder, "Oh, gee. When I was their age, I could afford college, land a high-paying job right after school and buy my first house before I was 25. How are they not doing the same?"
- catacombs 7y ago
  Why make lunch when you know you'll get it for free. And, if a company has the finances to provide free meals _every_ _day_, then that's one you'll likely go to.

sethammons 7y ago

My experience says that a communal lunch is extremely valuable in building a sense of community. Companies can get a better cohesive workforce by providing lunch options that bring people together.

brokenmachine 7y ago
Personally I don't care what food they're offering. I need to GTFO and have some time to myself. 8 hours is a long time.
- t34543 7y ago
  I always skip catered meals for the same reason. I cannot stand forced socialization. Brain must turn off for a bit, and socializing is hard work (for me).
  - C1sc0cat 7y ago
    Then is that not something you should focus on as part of your development? I have done that in the past when a very good developer was working on some cool tech I suggested that he present to our team meeting.
    - catacombs 7y ago
      > I have done that in the past when a very good developer was working on some cool tech I suggested that he present to our team meeting. Oh, god. My introverted self wants to slap you.
      - C1sc0cat 7y ago
        If you don't push yourself outside your comfort zone you wont grow - Oh and you will get taken advantage off and have worse career progression.
        catacombs 7y ago
        I'm an introvert and doing just fine, thank you very much. The fact you assume one needs to get out of his or her comfort zone or they will "get taken advantage off" and have "worse career progression" is too broad of a brushstroke.
        t34543 7y ago
        Introverts unite.
        brokenmachine 7y ago
        Let's not and say we did.
        catacombs 7y ago
        Can we do this in an email?
        brokenmachine 7y ago
        >If you don't push yourself outside your comfort zone you wont grow - Oh and you will get taken advantage off and have worse career progression. Or, he's more likely progress to a job where there is no patronizing idiot trying to ham-fistedly force him into non-work related socialization. Seriously, don't people like that have their own lives they want to live? I have way too little free time to waste it talking to people I spend 8 hours per day with already. There's plenty of time to talk to those people during work hours, at least I get paid during those hours as well.
        C1sc0cat 7y ago
    - t34543 7y ago
      I’m not interested in socializing. I’ll take the career hit - when I am in a social job I feel dread. When I’m heads down I’m happy to come to work.
- saiya-jin 7y ago
  I gladly exchange empty blah-blah time about yesterday evening/weekend/whatever for a workout session during lunch. Eating by the desk if very much fine by me, it matters more to me what is on the plate (ie veggies, salads and avoiding junkfood generally). And its a great time to turn off the brain and focus just on exercise.
  - m0zg 7y ago
    Protip: schedule your workouts ~2 hours after lunch. This achieves 2 things: staves off the afternoon mental fog, and ensures that the nutrients in your bloodstream go towards something useful.

jandeboevrie 7y ago

Why don't you make bread (lunch) in the morning and take it with you? Just like 99% of other people in the developed world.

navigatesol 7y ago
Right? Some of the comments here make it seem like we're on different planets. "Can't work without on-demand snacks!" Silicon Valley has definitely "branded" their employment, and millennial are buying in. Meanwhile, young people are burning themselves out at unprecedented rates.
- catacombs 7y ago
  > Meanwhile, young people are burning themselves out at unprecedented rates. Indeed. And they aren't making enough money to buy a home. Then, people, mostly boomers, will wonder, "Oh, gee. When I was their age, I could afford college, land a high-paying job right after school and buy my first house before I was 25. How are they not doing the same?"
catacombs 7y ago
Why make lunch when you know you'll get it for free. And, if a company has the finances to provide free meals _every_ _day_, then that's one you'll likely go to.