Candid Photos of ‘Desktop Dining’ in the American Workplace

Michael Brennan, Managing director in high-yield bond sales, Citigroup, New York. Pizza and chicken soup.

Monica Vaccari, Community manager of social media, Audible, Newark. Chicken-and-andouille soup; beignets for dessert.

“The way people eat at work is pretty sad,” the disillusioned ethnographer June Jo Lee told journalist Malia Wollan of The New York Times Magazine. For the story Failure to Lunch: The lamentable rise of desktop dining, the magazine teamed up with New York City-based photographer Brian Finke to conduct a survey of the state of munching in American offices.

The professionals Finke met along the way range from bankers to writers; he shot high-pressure workplaces in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He was upfront from the start about what he wanted: candid photographs of people chowing down. He had full access to those who chose to participate, and he had fun with it. “This usually private activity of eating is wonderfully awkward,” says the artist, “It’s a great time for photography- people want to be seen, to have the attention, be in front of the camera.”

Finke’s portraits, while they certainly do reflect what Lee called a “sad” reality, sparkle with wit and charm. They’re relatable because, as Wollan reports, more than half of us (62 percent) have lunch at our desks. About 50% of us have our midday meal without the company of others.

According to Wollan’s research, “desktop dining” (the official term used by social scientists) doesn’t bode well for the future of offices throughout the United States. While it might seem more efficient to forgo the sit-down meal in favor of a multitasking lunch, it turns out people aren’t necessarily working when they snack at their desks; it’s common to surf the internet between bites.

In terms of office morale, the desktop lunches can even be destructive. As Cornell University’s Brian Wansink explained to Wollan, eating as a group can bond and unite people, making them more upbeat and productive. Whether or not you buy Lee’s less-than-optimistic conclusion, Finke’s images are a testament to both the loneliness and unintentional humor of the American workplace, where computers and keyboards take precedence over good food and face-to-face interaction.

Brian Finke’s work is currently on view at Pocko Gallery in London. You can purchase his recent book here.

Louis R. Hernandez, Attorney, Kurkland & Ellis, Chicago. Turkey sandwich, chips, and fruit.

Shivam Pappu, Trader, Citigroup, New York. Salad with hummus and tahini.

Samantha Brix, Senior copy writer, Havas Life New York, New York. Kale salad with feta cheese, olives, beets, and walnuts.

Dominic Chu, CNBC markets reporter, CNBC, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Leftover teriyaki stir-fry chicken and vegetables.

Steven Banton, Digital video editor, CNBC, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Salad with tomato, onions, chicken, egg, and celery.

Everett Rosenfeld, Staff writer, CNBC, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Ribs, kale salad, and Mountain Dew.

Mollie Tavel, Account supervisor, Weber Shandwick, Chicago. Sautéed spinach and fettuccine with marinara and meatballs.

Dominick Sherry, Visual effects artist, Practical Magic, Sun Valley, California. Sweet-and-sour chicken and fortune cookies.

All images © Brian Finke for The New York Times

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