The extinction of ‘free lunches’
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17380)
Canada
November 10, 2010 3:33pm CST
There is a saying where I work at (or I guess, everywhere too), that there is no such thing as a free lunch. So, when we heard this morning that there was going to be a short meeting at lunch time, with some sandwiches going to be served, we all at the office got wary.
At lunch we realized that the bosses were giving us a treat because one of the guys at work was leaving, and all of us where going to pitch in and share some of the responsibilities that he used to handle.
I wanted to raise my hand and ask, can I pass up on the sandwiches?
I used to work for a big multinational company where food was always provided for in meetings. Sometimes we even dragged meeting over lunch time so as just to get a free lunch out of it. It is a bit sad that the world and the workplace does not work that way anymore.
So, have you had a free lunch lately? Lunch that didn’t come with any catch? Does the company you work for still offer free food? Where do you work at? I want to send my CV.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
14 Nov 10
Not lunch but half a donut! At my work co workers bring food All the time. Yesterday there were donuts. I usually would have a whole one but I didn't want to ruin my dinner so I had half of one. We rarely have meetings but when we do , we have food. The last one was pot luck. The last time I remember having a lunch free was when we were losing 4 co workers. The higher ups took All of us to a Chinese restaurant.I guess that Was a free lunch! But like you said ,it was a sad occasion.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
18 Nov 10
All I did bring was soda! I am not a cook. And it was on a day I rode the bus so I couldn't brng anything I baked. So I rode the bus, went to the supermarket near work, got the soda and that was that! Half a donut is a nosh, not lunch. so I get fre Noshes at work All the time.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
18 Nov 10
Even your example of going to the Chinese restaurant had a catch -that you were losing 4 co workers.
And I wouldn't really call a pot luck a free lunch (unless you're like me who just counts on people forgetting to bring soda, because that what I bring 
).
And I couldn't make up my mind on the 'half a donut'...
).
And I couldn't make up my mind on the 'half a donut'...1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
14 Nov 10
No more free food for us at work..,.lol...they cut that out a year ago. They used to give us a catered Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner but that was cut out to save money when times started to get tough. I guess it could have been worse. They used to kind of randomly get us pizza here and there too....like when we had been working a lot of overtime. Not any more though.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
14 Nov 10
Same where I work.
It is a bit sad when the things that made our place of work a little bit better (or bearable) are the things that get cut off when the talk of saving money is floating around. It is sad because I've always thought that it gives a lot of morale boost when needed.
Thanks Jen.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 10
No, where I work there is no thing called a 'free lunch' either. Although there is a budget item labelled canteen so I let 'canteen' pay for a jar of coffee and milk. We had a tropical storm last week (not bad) but it is hard work to get the pace battened down. The gardeners worked so hard that I let 'canteen' buy them a lunch of hot soup and patties. It was cold and raining and they really appreciated it. MY BOSS HASN'T NOTICED THIS AS YET. when he does then I will get it in the neck
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
12 Nov 10
That's really great of you cynthiann to let the 'canteen' take care of some hot soup and patties for the workers. In appreciation for working hard after a bad storm. Unfortunately, I know the reputation of your boss(from your discussions here in myLot), so I definitely know that you will really get it in the neck!
Goodluck.
Goodluck.
@arystine (1273)
• Philippines
12 Nov 10
One of the benefits offered by our company is the meal subsidy. The employees are free to choose which meal would they like to be free, whether it be breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks. I opt to get my free lunch, because it's my favorite meal of the day. :) It's nice, since the free meals offered by our company consist not just rice and viand, but also free soup and vegetables. At times, my boss also treats us to Starbucks whenever our meetings need some perking up. :p
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
12 Nov 10
That's what I miss at working there. All the food-perks you get because there are lots of places to go.
The very first job I got had a retaurant in front of the office where they had some sort of deal where we could get our lunches for free! I guess it was also called some sort of meal subsidy, it was the best! But I only lasted 3 months with that company.
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
11 Nov 10
Currently I am doing some integrity ratings, so just two days ago I went to a health care meeting, where there was no lunch but it was all you could eat and anything on the menu as it was the meeting was held at a restaurant.
I thought this was nice although I did not take advantage as now I am wondering why I did not opt for certain things.
