[dr42]

the free-food culture is so ingrained in the tech world that it would be much harder to eliminate there.

free food in tech startups isn't free at all. You (as the employee) are just donating more time & money to the employer.

I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that has a fabulous suite of cafeterias that host a huge variety of foods, but in the startup world, free food just felt like the NYC power lunches of the 80's

[mseebach]

Literally, TANSTAAFL.

This falls in the class of benefits that serve to remove worries for employees so they can spend that time thinking about work instead.

I really don't see how that's a bad thing. If you're feeling shortchanged by the deal, let your boss know. Ultimately, quit.

My last job didn't have catered food. I was a daily chore to figure what to get and go out and get it. Not difficult, but annoying and it broke my concentration. Also we didn't have a lunch area, so most people ate alone at their desks. In my current job (free catered lunch), I've experienced to drone down to the cafeteria and get food without really breaking my train of thought, and I've experienced meeting some people in the cafeteria and picking up a great non-work related conversation.

[pyoung]

"You (as the employee) are just donating more time & money to the employer."

Not sure if I agree with this. You aren't necessarily required to eat and work at the same time just because you are getting free food. Secondly, an extra ~$10-15 bucks a day per person is a relatively minuscule amount of money for a company (keep in mind that if this was distributed as salary to employees, it would only be about $5-10 a day after taxes). So, essentially the employee is enjoying a meal that is being paid for with pre-tax money.

[bergerson]

i've worked at a few startups with catered lunches. where i'm at now, we purposely only cater lunch and not dinner so that people don't feel obligated to stay later. we always have the kitchen stocked so there's food if they do, plus we order extra at lunch so there are leftovers. no one is required to stay and eat, but it helps everyone bond at lunch over non-work related things.

plus, some people go out on their lunch, and come back and eat the food at their desk. win-win. free food, no obligation to work.

[prayag]

>I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that has a fabulous suite of cafeterias that host a huge variety of foods, but in the startup world, free food just felt like the NYC power lunches of the 80's

Am I the only one who find your comment ironical?