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AIBU?

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Original poster

Fed up with drinking coffee in other people’s offices.

205 replies

canyouseemyhousefromhere · 09/05/2025 14:20

That’s what it feels like lately. I popped in for a coffee in a local coffee shop and was surrounded by four separate people working with laptops, headphones and piles of paperwork talking loudly to ‘clients’ . No food or drink in sight. I have just heard one of them invite 2 people to a meeting in this cafe, he’s busy arranging chairs (carrying them across the cafe) as I type.
I have no particular problem to people working in coffee shops but some are really taking the p now.
They often take the best tables and are now frequently causing a nuisance. I have seen two groups of shoppers change their minds whilst in the queue not sure if it’s because of the office people or just coincidence.
Is there also a confidentiality issue here perhaps? A list with personal information was clearly in view on the table.
Does anyone else feel fed up with this or am I just being a misery? 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Hamandpineapplepizza · 09/05/2025 14:32

I'm surprised their employers let them . We issued very clear guidance to employees that they are not allowed to work in public places.
So many risks of breaches of confidentiality

Screamingabdabz · 09/05/2025 14:32

Yeah I agree. I went into a Starbucks like this and it was not enjoyable. Worse was someone who’d parked up with his dog, complete with dog blanket and dog bowl. It make me feel slightly queasy. I don’t want to be around that shit in a coffee shop.

Ultimately it’s the fault of management who allow it. They must prefer the custom of insufferable entitled wankers to people just simply doing the old fashioned thing and sitting with a drink.

ThatCyanCat · 09/05/2025 14:29

I guess they must be bringing enough business to the coffee places for it to be profitable for them? I can't really see how, though.

LadyDanburysHat · 09/05/2025 14:27

That sounds awful. The only work that should be done in coffee shops is quiet computer work, no meetings or calls.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 09/05/2025 14:25

Seek out 'no laptops' cafes. There's one near me with this rule. Otherwise since Covid this is a very common way to work

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