A Massachusetts company is promoting its “Happy Desk Salad Kit” after a survey revealed that most non-remote corporate employees eat lunch at their desks.
“Somewhere along the lines, the desk salad got seriously maligned and became the symbol of a less-than-stellar office lunch experience,” said Jeannie Hannigan, senior brand manager for Little Leaf Farms, in a news release. “We’re here to change that perception. Little Leaf Farms is just as serious about leveling up lunchtime as we are about growing a longer-lasting, fresher, more sustainable lettuce.”
According to the survey conducted by Opinium Research, 76% of non-remote workers eat lunch at their desks at least half the time.
“While memes abound for ‘sad desk lunch’ and more specifically ‘sad desk salad,’ Little Leaf Farm’s survey points to a different story,” the release reads. “Sixty-eight percent of workers who take lunch at their desk indicate that they prefer eating lunch at their desk, citing that ‘it’s convenient’ … and they ‘feel more productive'” as their main reasons.
Furthermore, the survey found that 73% of office workers plan to bring their lunches to work as often or more often this year, with the primary motivator being that “it’s healthier.” With those employees in mind, Little Leaf Farms offers its Happy Desk Salad Kit that includes:
- Desk shade for privacy.
- Desktop candelabra.
- Water bottle chiller.
- Custom placemat.
- Fork, napkin ring, and napkin.
- Little Leaf Farms Crispy Caesar Salad Kit.
According to the release, the decision to eat deskside comes with “plenty of etiquette landmines.” Sixty-seven percent of workers reported meetings are scheduled during the lunch hour at least once a week, and 33% said that scheduling office events during that time is “rude no matter what.”
If meetings are booked during the lunch hour, 45% of workers multi-task and eat at least half the time. During virtual meetings, 7% of employees keep their cameras on while eating, but 58% turn their cameras off because they believe it is rude to leave them on during lunch.