# Lunch Rules in a Start-Up Office

> Start-up workers eat snacks outside due to strict office rules.
- Title: Lunch Rules in a Start-Up Office · Slate Magazine | Shortify
- Summary: Start-up workers eat snacks outside due to strict office rules. A start-up with 12 employees can’t eat in their coworking space, forcing them to eat outside…
- Keywords: start-up, coworking space, lunch, snack, reprimand, coworking, office, professional environment, workplace, team, Rules, Slate Magazine
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/10/work-day-advice-office-lunch-food.html?via=rss
- Author: Laura Helmuth
- Published: 2026-10-01T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: start-up, coworking space, lunch, snack, reprimand, coworking, office, professional environment, workplace, team
## Start-Up Lunch Problem
A start-up with 12 employees works from home one day and in the field one or two days a week.
## No Office Space
The owner won’t get them a regular office because they work from home one day and in the field one or two days a week.
## Coworking Space Limits
They have only one big table for four people, must reserve conference rooms a week in advance, and can’t leave work overnight.
## Snack Restrictions
They are not allowed to eat anything more than a snack inside the building, so yogurt, pastries, and carrots are all frowned upon.
## Lunch Choices
For lunch, they must go out to overpriced, unhealthy lunches or eat their packed lunch on the ground in the alley behind the building.
## Reprimands
Everyone has had their turn being reprimanded by staff for misinterpreting what a snack is.
## Professional Environment
The writer feels it’s insulting that the space doesn’t go both ways in a professional environment with high expectations.
## Advice Response
The writer received advice to ask the owner to move to a new space with kitchen and dining areas and meeting rooms.
## Follow-Up
The writer thanked the advice column for their support and clarified that the committee they’re on is the governance committee.
## Term Limits
The writer mentioned that the president’s term is one year with no limit, but changes to the term are a good idea to limit influence.
## Paralegal Job Search
A recent paralegal graduate struggles to find entry-level roles due to lack of experience.
## Experience Translation
The writer has experience in talent recruiting that can be translated to paralegal skills like interviewing and research.
## Networking Tips
The writer should join professional societies, alumni networks, and contact law firms for internships.
## Cold-Calling
Cold-calling law firms might not get much response, but focusing on specific firms could help.
## Next Steps
The writer should prepare for interviews by using their experience in talent recruiting to highlight relevant skills.
## Key takeaway

A start-up with 12 employees can’t eat in their coworking space, forcing them to eat outside or face reprimands for snacks.