Knowledge transfer at work has a time problem: seminars take too long, emails go unread, and intranet posts stay unopened. Lunch & Learn sessions solve this by shifting learning time into a slot that already exists – the lunch break.
What can 40 minutes with an expert achieve?
A clearly defined topic, a knowledgeable speaker, and 15 minutes of questions afterward – that's all it takes to enable real knowledge transfer. The best Lunch & Learns aren't lectures but conversations – interactive, at eye level, with concrete takeaways people can apply that same afternoon. Topics with a direct connection to daily work perform best: stress management, nutrition for focused work, digital self-organization.
Which formats work long-term?
A series beats a single event. Organizations that establish Lunch & Learn as a monthly format create an expectation: something new happens on the first Tuesday of the month. That lowers the communication effort per session and builds a community of listeners who also suggest topics. Peer-learning formats – colleagues sharing their own expert knowledge – enjoy surprisingly high popularity and cost nothing. A good complement is the best practice Health Newsletter.
How do you put the measure in place?
- 1Set the topic and speaker for the first session
- 2Invitation by email: "Lunch & Learn – 30 min, bring your own food"
- 3Reserve a room (or go virtual via video call)
- 4After the event: quick feedback (1 question via show of hands)
- 5Find the next speaker — ideally: volunteers from the team
What do you need for it?
- Effort
- under 30 min
- Cost
- Free
- Duration
- Monthly
- Setup
- 30 min
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Informal knowledge transfer
- ✓ Strengthens team connection
- ✓ Flexible on topics
Tax and health insurance: what is possible
Employer health benefits can be tax-free under § 3 no. 34 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) up to €600 per employee per year — if they are provided in addition to the salary already owed and are either certified (§ 20 SGB V) or implemented within the company's health promotion process. Gym memberships and corporate fitness are not covered. For ZPP-certified courses (e.g. from Upfit), German statutory health insurers can reimburse all or part of the course fee to their insured members — then only the amount exceeding that reimbursement is tax-free. Projects within the company can be funded under § 20b SGB V, with no entitlement. Only your tax adviser can confirm the tax exemption.
How it works in EasyWHP
This Best Practice in EasyWHP: adopt it, adapt it, measure the effect
Once adopted, the measure is ready in EasyWHP — with instructions, an invitation and surveys before and after. You adapt what fits your company and see at the end what it achieved.
Screenshots with demo data, no real people.
Adopt it for your company
Register for free — and the measure is ready to go in your cockpit: invitation, feedback survey and appointment are already set up. First cycle, first numbers for the boss.
Try EasyWHP for freeRather take a look first? To the live demo →
Contributes to
Measure the impact with
Action field
Stress & Mental Health →A fitting occasion
- Online Webinar Series: WHP Knowledge Compact (Quarterly)
Related Best Practices
Not sure where to start? Self-check in approx. 7 minutes →