Founder makes daily 1-hour ‘office picnic’ mandatory, everyone eats at 2 pm

In an era of high-pressure corporate environments, one founder is making a case for the power of the collective lunch break. Sharing a glimpse of her office, she described a daily scene in which work “disappears” for 60 minutes. From sharing food to cracking jokes and playing games, the ritual ensures that no one eats alone. The founder, Kavya Karnatac, believes that these daily “picnics” are rare in today’s workspace but essential for building trust.A picture of an ‘office picnic’ shared the founder. (LinkedIn/Kavya Karnatac)“Everyday we have a 1 hour picnic at the office! And it is non-negotiable. We are a team of 40 people across different verticals, deadlines, and chaos. But suddenly as the clock hits 2 PM, all of that disappears and everyone gathers in the hall,” Kavya Karnatac wrote on LinkedIn.Also Read: Delhi founder shares 5 am office reality, says startup life comes with ‘stress and chaos’She added, “Chairs get pulled from everywhere. People stand, squeeze in, sit on corners. Because, no one eats alone at KK Create. There’s no hierarchy at that table. Managers, freshers, sab ek plate se kha lete hain.”The founder, who was once featured on “Forbes 30 under 30”, continued, “The managers are the first ones to say, ‘Aajao lunch karne, kaam baad mein karna.’ It goes for an hour, sometimes even more: Someone sharing ghar ka khaana. Someone cracking the worst (but funniest) jokes. Someone starting a mafia game mid-meal. It feels like party everyday.”Expressing how she feels about this policy, she shared, “This culture is rare and honestly? Some days, it doesn’t even feel like an office. It feels like a family sitting down for a meal. These 60 minutes remind me connection beyond work truly builds a team.”(HT.com has reached out to Kavya Karnatac, this report will be ce she responds.)What did social media say?An individual asked, “This sounds more like a community than just an office. Love that you’ve made this hour non-negotiable. I’m curious, though—when that 2 PM clock hits, how do you guys handle those ‘urgent’ client calls or deadlines that always seem to pop up right at lunch? It’s a bold move to put culture first like that!” The founder replied, “Nothing is urgent to us at that time. We try to detach ourselves from work for an hour and get back with even more efficiency.”Also Read: Delhi founders celebrate startup success gifting SUV to first employee they hired. WatchAnother commented, “Culture is not built in meetings or policies. It shows up in small daily rituals like this. Most companies chase productivity and forget that connection is what sustains it. When people actually enjoy being around each other, collaboration stops feeling forced.”A third expressed, “Honestly, this feels less like a ‘perk’ and more like a mindset. When people are comfortable enough to laugh, share food, and just be themselves, work stops feeling transactional.” A fourth wrote, “Love this—turning small daily moments into something to look forward to can completely shift workplace energy. Culture isn’t built in off-sites, it’s built in these everyday rituals.”