I'm an exempt, salaried employee at a small (under 15 employee) company. My employer recently told me and one of my coworkers that we cannot go to lunch together. We're not gone more than the time alloted and only eat together once a week. I was stunned by this and asked them to put it in writing, but they refused.

I normally get one hour for lunch and leave the building. My understanding has always been that I can do what I want on my lunch hour, which includes eating with a co-worker.

Can an employer dictate who I'm allowed to go to lunch with?

Yes, your employer can refuse to allow two co-workers to go to lunch at the same time.

I'm shocked that you say they can. Is there a reason why? It seems pretty rediculous to me. We work in different departments and could be meeting down the street for all they know. How can they tell me what I can do on my personal time?

How can they tell me what I can do on my personal time? By and large, they can't. Your employer can't prevent the two of you from lunching together but they can terminate your employment if you refuse to comply with their request.

By the way, did you happen to ask your employer why?

They can tell you who you can go to lunch with because there is no law that says they can't.

It's up to you. If you want to go to lunch with this co-worker badly enough to risk your job over it, that's your decision to make.

I asked "why" and they didn't give a reason, other than they didn't want us to. The request actually came from the office manager not my supervisor. She typically doesn't like it if two people become friendly.

I obviously don't want to lose my job over it which is why I posted the question. I just wanted to understand the law. Can they also request that I not socialize with this person after work?

They can request it, yes, however, I very much doubt that they will do so.