Brown Bag Lunch definition

Brown bag lunches are combined learning/eating events, taking place over lunchtime, where training can occur in an informal setting.

The topics covered during brown bag lunches vary widely but they generally avoid formal or work-related training and will instead focus on the fringes of professional activities e.g. making the most of networking opportunities or utilising employee reward schemes. Sometimes brown bag lunches will be purely for bonding purposes rather than learning – an employee may share photos of their wedding or insight from foreign travel.

Employees used to bring their own packed lunch to brown bag lunches. Some still do, although employers are increasing providing food, such as takeaway pizzas or sandwich platters, as an incentive for attending.