Web cafes reflect casual trend in the workplace.

The working lunch used to be a dreaded task. Now it's hip.

High-tech companies have bought into the concept that most employees don't work as well in isolated cubicles as they do in casual, comfortable conference rooms with other people.

Now, a new design trend has transformed the lunchroom into a new kind of conference room, only one with a steady flow of coffee and Internet access. It may sound like some sort of devious, corporate plot aimed at squeezing more working hours out of employees, but that's not why the "web cafe" is a hot new item. Employees, especially those in the high-tech industry, are already working on laptops while they eat, meet and get a java jolt.

"People working in the high-tech industry …