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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 t
by biot 14y ago
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 are not ostracized. Then get out of the way.
The only exception I can see is for smaller teams where, for planning purposes, indicating that you'll participate would help with ordering the right amount/type of food.
- cdr 14y agoThat seems like a pretty gross overreaction. 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.
- biot 14y agoPerhaps you misunderstood my comment. I can only speak to the fact that based on how it was described (the reporter may have misrepresented what it was like for dramatic effect) I would find it stifling. Even if the description is 100% spot on and it's not for me, it could be that everyone there enjoys it and it becomes a good filter for finding employees who are into that kind of culture. I never stated that it can never work. Only that it would only work for me if it's a no-pressure, opt-in, spontaneous thing.