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To ask, if you work remotely/from home do you worry about your Teams status going yellow/'Away'

167 replies

88tthh · 06/04/2024 13:06

I've recently started a work from home job and I get quite anxious about my Teams status going to the yellow 'Away' status, as I worry I'll get picked up on it or people will think I'm taking excessive breaks from my laptop.

For example, yesterday my status went to Away a couple of times when I went to the loo, and when I went and made a coffee. I get stressed and try and rush back to my laptop, as 5 minutes goes by so quickly. I know if I was in the office I definitely wouldn't be panicking about the amount or duration of toilet breaks, for example, yet at home I do. I also time my lunch hour down to the minute to make sure I'm back at my desk after exactly an hour (or sometimes less).

I follow some influencers online who have similar work from home jobs and I see them pottering around putting washes on and even taking quick showers during the work day, yet also spending their lunch hour at 1-hour exercise classes (so they're not doing these things during their lunch breaks). I guess the normal is probably somewhere between their approach and my approach.

OP posts:
Glass113 · 06/04/2024 13:19

Nobody cares in my job but if it really bothers you then open a word doc and put something heavy on your key board.

Or what I was told (from a very senior person) is to ring your mobile from teams and then you're on a call 😂

DontGetYourTitsInATwist · 06/04/2024 13:18

I used to use a mouse mover plugged into a different USB than the computer.

Snackpocket · 06/04/2024 13:18

Nope never worry and am too busy to be looking at whether my team are showing as away unless I need one of them!

Schoom · 06/04/2024 13:18

Subject to the type of job you do, you could start a new call with just you in it. Then the status will be "in a call" until you disconnect

WingsofRain · 06/04/2024 13:17

Yes, I worry about it, if I’m working in systems outside Teams it goes orange even though I’m working.
I have no idea if anyone else even notices it, but it does bother me.

Capmagturk · 06/04/2024 13:17

I've changed the teams setting so it doesn't change to away and changed Skype to the maximum time capacity before it does.

Teams
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu. In the left-hand column, click on “Privacy”. Here, you can manage your status and activity. To stop Teams from changing your status to away, turn off the switch for “Show me as away when inactive.” Your status will remain active and available.

AllTheUsernamesLeftAreShit · 06/04/2024 13:16

I don't think about this at all to be honest. Do none of your tasks take place outside of teams? I'll regularly set my teams status to do not disturb for a period of time so I don't get notifications while, say, preparing a report for the board or training materials.

Lazykitten · 06/04/2024 13:16

Minimum85percentCocoa · 06/04/2024 13:10

Would you feel better if you set it to ‘busy’ when leaving the computer for a bit? I don’t think this is anything you should worry about. You should be taking regular screen breaks anyway as per HSE guidelines.

As in red? Doesn't that also go yellow if you're not clicking?

Yes OP I worry about this even though its daft. Part of my job is to read long documents so if I'm pondering over a wording it can often go to yellow. I click just so it shows I'm working even though I'm AT MY DESK WORKING!!!

KrisAkabusi · 06/04/2024 13:16

It has never occurred to me to worry about this.

Babysharkdoodoodood · 06/04/2024 13:16

I have a jiggler

Malarandras · 06/04/2024 13:15

Never thought about it. I don’t think anybody else does where I work either.

FuckOffTom · 06/04/2024 13:15

If you set to busy it will still go yellow if you’re away.
I wouldn’t worry about it OP. I don’t monitor the people that report in to me and their TEAMS status, I go by their output - quality of work and are they hitting their deadlines. Quite often they will tell me they need to pop out in the afternoon or whatever to run an errand and I tell them not to worry about telling me… just do it!

MotorcycleMayhem · 06/04/2024 13:14

Pro tip:

A concave mirror (the type that gives you a close up for eyebrow shaping etc) placed under your mouse bounces the mouse light around and keeps the screen awake.

Takes a bit of trial and error to get the right angle, but it works a treat.....

supertatos · 06/04/2024 13:14

I just leave mine offline I hate it

CormorantStrikesBack · 06/04/2024 13:13

Genuinely never crosses my mind. And I have long gaps not sat at my computer

Minimum85percentCocoa · 06/04/2024 13:10

Would you feel better if you set it to ‘busy’ when leaving the computer for a bit? I don’t think this is anything you should worry about. You should be taking regular screen breaks anyway as per HSE guidelines.