I usually make it a point to eat lunch with my staff everyday - we all go into the lounge [which happens to be our greenhouse] and eat…just about every day. I enjoy it because it allows us to all be in the same room - to let our day take a calming turn and gives us the opportunity to unplug for awhile. I rarely eat alone in my office.
How about you?
Do you prefer one to the other? Why?
Alone, with a book. I’d like to start eating lunch with coworkers, but I’m new here, and I don’t really know anyone.
Alone, at my desk, reading the 'Dope.
Exceptions are made for office parties or when everyone gets takeout.
I am in technical assembly and the vast majority of my coworkers speak Vietnamese. I mean they do speak English as well but when they are together in a group it can get pretty loud. I usually eat lunch alone in my car.
I guess that seems sad but I don’t mind it. Plus it is pretty much the only place one can smoke around here.
I once had a boss who had an expectation that I would eat lunch with her everyday. If I did not, she was heartily offended, to the point that if I did want to each lunch elsewhere I had to come up with a very good reason. It was not a good situation.
I prefer to eat with a group usually, but I prefer peers to bosses and employees.
Alone! One and sometimes two times a week I have a working lunch, but if it is literally just eating lunch, I prefer to be alone. It is my time to collect my thoughts and unwind.
My typical work day is a lot of group work with my colleagues, though. Maybe if I didn’t see them often, it would seem more enjoyable to relax with them over lunch … but I’ve just spent a lot of time with them in the morning, and will most likely be spending more time in their company in the afternoon.
I usually eat alone. I don’t mind having lunch with co-workers, but I’m already spending the day with them in a noisy store. For lunch I like to mellow out in my quiet car with a book. It helps me relax and get my thoughts together for the rest of my shift. Plus it gives me a chance to get some fresh air; it’s my first job that keeps me inside all day and I’m not used to not being outdoors for work.
I agree, and for some of the new people here eating with everyone [including myself] was a bit much - granted we work for a non-profit environmental group so we’re all a bunch of tree-hugg’in dirt-worshippers so things tend to stay a little layed back around here. I happen to be the E.D. but we are all working for the same cause.
I never have a probelm if people want to eat alone, I just thing that right no we have a great cohesive group and we all get along quite nicely. There are times in the spring and summer where we’ll all eat outside…very nice indeed.
Alone. I go over to the cafeteria, go to MY table (always the same one unless someone stole it), have my lunch and read the LA Times.
This is me almost exactly. I have one coworker with whom I had lunch almost every day, but she’s been on maternity leave for the last four months, and I actually enjoy my quiet time. I prefer to be sitting in front of my computer and browsing while I eat.
I usually eat with my coworkers if someone went out and got all of us lunch, though.
I go home and eat with my husband. Before that, I’d eat alone in the car and read.
As an adult, I don’t mind it, but remember how it was in school? There were several years I didn’t eat lunch because I couldn’t face sitting alone in the cafeteria.
Ever since I moved to my current job, I’ve gotten into the nasty habit of just working right through lunch and eating at my desk… if there’s no work to do, then I end up surfing around the internet for an hour instead and then get back to work. The only time I seem to eat lunch with anyone anymore is when someone orders food because a meeting is running late and we’re all hungry.
Once the weather warms up, I do believe I’ll start forcing myself to take a walk at lunch, because this is a very very unhealthy habit.
I prefer to eat alone. Engaging in conversation with others just slows me down and my food gets cold on me if there’s too much chatter. That said, I don’t mind if a co-worker I am acquainted with joins me, but I don’t seek out to sit with others in the break room.
If I could eat at my desk I would, but since I have to use the microwaves in the break room I figure I might as well eat my lunch there.
Usually I eat lunch alone in my office, with a book. One or two days a week I’ll meet my husband for lunch. Occasionally I’ll go out with a friend.
I eat with my husband most days; he works at the same place I do. He’s off at a training this week and I miss it desperately! How did I face those lonely husbandless lunches all those years? 
Sometimes I eat with other friends at work in the breakroom; there’s usually a lively bunch down there.
I’ve read your posts. I’ve seen your pictures. I’d eat lunch with you any day!
I do that as well. The business buys each Friday, and on the other days people often bring leftovers/etc. However, nothing is really planned out, so it can be feast or famine.
Well, I’m alone in person but I eat lunch with you guys most days, so I’m virtually not alone.
Ya beat me to it.
I do occasionally go to lunch with a group, but we’re talking…maybe once a month? Sometimes I’ll use my lunch-break to run errands, though. It’s what I meant to do today and didn’t manage.
At this job I eat alone, with my crossword puzzle. I will occassionally talk to others, but I have no desire to be friends with these people. I’ve been friends with cow-orkers before and it brought me nothing but trouble.
StG