How long would you block off for a workday lunch with a friend?

[Anonymous]

We both work from home within blocks of each other and made loose plans to meet up today for lunch. She texted at 11:40, still on for lunch?
I said yes, free in a few moments, just have a call at 1. In my mind I figured a little more than an hour for a weekday catchup.
She said let's postpone so you're not rushed.
I now feel badly like I double booked or something? I said, are you sure, I'm free right now -- and she said yes, she isn't feeling great today anyway.
Did I screw up?? Am I overthinking this?

[Anonymous]

2-3 hours

[Anonymous]

This is why people are getting called back to the office.

[Anonymous]

Definitely 2 hours. I would block off 12-2 - gives time to travel, get comfortable, eat and catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why people are getting called back to the office.

I took longer lunches when I worked in the office bc I would often go out with other coworkers. When I WFH, I eat at my desk and work through lunch.

[Anonymous]

I would never plan a social outing mid day on a work day, unless it was a super unique thing where someone was only in town for one day from out of state or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2-3 hours

2-3 in middle of day? Go to happy hour if you need that time.

45 min - 1.5 hrs max if you're working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2-3 hours

Three hours???

--Don Draper's martini shaker

[Anonymous]

I’d probably allow an hour and a half if going out.
An hour if close by and eating at one of your houses

[Anonymous]

I am paid hourly and have to clock in and out so 90 minutes unless if was someone visiting from out of town or something.

[Anonymous]

1 hour, same as you, since that's usually what I and most people I meet with officially get. When scheduling I'd probably say something about the 1pm thing, like, "can we meet at 11:45? I need to be back at my desk for a call at 1pm."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why people are getting called back to the office.

People had team and long lunches in the office. More of them.

I would book 2 hours and maybe use 1:45.

1 hr for lunch, 30 mins in transit, 15-30 minutes buffer so as not to be late for meetings that start on an o'clock.

Same for any offsite waiter service lunch departing from a formal office. Because you can't control the speed of ordering, cooking, paying.

I allow 1 hour for a catch-up onsite at a workplace cafeteria. 20 mins transit and food buying. 35-40 mins of eating and talking.

RTO's main benefits are supposed to be socialization driven (f2f).

[Anonymous]

I would use leave if more than 1 hour so it is unlikely I would want to be more than 1 hour. I almost never schedule social lunches during the work day. I walk with a neighbor sometimes. We are home in about 40 mins.

You were fine OP. When you discuss the next lunch I would let her know you are planning for about 1 hour due to work commitments.

[Anonymous]

An hour is standard!

[Anonymous]

It depends on what time you agreed to meet (may be she thought you’d meet at 12 or 12:30 and you surprised her with an 11:40-12:50 or so lunch window). Also, depends how far the restaurant is, and how long it takes to order food / get served. If going to a a place like Cava, I’d plan on an hour from getting to the restaurant, if a more sit and order, then 1-1.5 hours. So yes, leaving at 11:40 (and from what you wrote, it doesn’t seem your friend was ready to leave this soon) to about 12:40/12:50 barely gives you time.