Saving money by packing your own lunch seems like a practical move, until it apparently gets you in trouble at work.
A Malaysian employee recently shared on XiaoHongShu that they were allegedly issued a warning letter for not joining their colleagues during lunch breaks. The worker explained that they preferred bringing their own food from home to save money, a habit they had maintained in their previous company without any issues.
But things turned sour after joining a new workplace. According to the post, the HR department viewed the behaviour as “negative” because it supposedly affected team morale. The employee was later handed a formal warning for repeatedly refusing to join lunch outings.
“I was completely dumbfounded,” they wrote. “They said not going for lunch with colleagues could affect the team’s emotions. I’m here to work, not to play team-building games every day.”
The post quickly caught attention online, with many Malaysians finding humour in the situation. Some jokingly suggested that the employee should ask HR for lunch allowances if they wanted everyone to dine together. Others encouraged the person to review their employment contract and check if there was any written rule that made lunchtime bonding mandatory.
Most netizens sided with the employee, saying that personal choices, especially those involving money and comfort, should not be penalised at work. As one comment put it, “If eating alone affects team morale, maybe the problem isn’t lunch. It’s management.”
