3 ms·

One thing I've always wondered about with companies that provide free food is are you considered an outcast or thought of not being a team player if you bring y

One thing I've always wondered about with companies that provide free food is are you considered an outcast or thought of not being a team player if you bring your own food or don't eat with the team? Sometimes I'm on a very specific diet, and I do like getting out of the office from time to time, so I'd hate to feel like an outcast for not eating with everyone everyday.

woan 16y ago
I doubt anyone would be offended, but I consider breaking bread with the rest of the company part of the job and corporate culture especially if folks not directly working together get together. It is an effective tool for informal interaction which helps folks adapt to each others unique communications styles. I think it might be more in keeping with the spirit to suggest group lunch outings just to get out of the office. My old team at IBM used to take our lunches to the park across the street by the Charles River when the weather was nice or take lunch bicycle rides.
kahseng 16y ago
Not everyone eats together everyday. And no one will be considered outcast if so. There are many ways we interact on a day to day basis besides meal times, and we're all in the same room. Folks also bring their own food sometimes. I'm sure something can be worked out for you too if you have special dietary needs and what we have isn't appropriate.
Hominem 16y ago
I worked for 3 years at a company with free food. Our dept was 7 people at it's largest and it had always had a tradition of ordering from one restaurant together. It was a very tedious process to get everyone to agree and hellish for people with dietary restrictions. As for being seen as an outcast if you brought your own food, or didn't eat with the group, yes , the manager tended to read you the riot act if you tried to go out for lunch or brought your own.

3 ms·

One thing I've always wondered about with companies that provide free food is are you considered an outcast or thought of not being a team player if you bring y

by leftnode 16y ago

woan 16y ago
I doubt anyone would be offended, but I consider breaking bread with the rest of the company part of the job and corporate culture especially if folks not directly working together get together. It is an effective tool for informal interaction which helps folks adapt to each others unique communications styles. I think it might be more in keeping with the spirit to suggest group lunch outings just to get out of the office. My old team at IBM used to take our lunches to the park across the street by the Charles River when the weather was nice or take lunch bicycle rides.
kahseng 16y ago
Not everyone eats together everyday. And no one will be considered outcast if so. There are many ways we interact on a day to day basis besides meal times, and we're all in the same room. Folks also bring their own food sometimes. I'm sure something can be worked out for you too if you have special dietary needs and what we have isn't appropriate.
Hominem 16y ago
I worked for 3 years at a company with free food. Our dept was 7 people at it's largest and it had always had a tradition of ordering from one restaurant together. It was a very tedious process to get everyone to agree and hellish for people with dietary restrictions. As for being seen as an outcast if you brought your own food, or didn't eat with the group, yes , the manager tended to read you the riot act if you tried to go out for lunch or brought your own.