Disastrous Teams meeting - is it as bad as I think?

You might want to rethink your 80%.

For a start, the poll suggests 45% think op is unreasonable. And if you read the comments, it seems like most are saying it’s unprofessional to conduct an important meeting on a sofa and in a communal area (which it is).

But would you use that excuse for other professions? If your GP had her dog in the surgery and you were there to discuss a lump in your breast would you be happy with the dog jumping all over her during the consultation? Because maybe she couldn’t get a dog sitter that day and she’s only human after all! She’s not a machine!

The problem with the “she’s only human” idea, while true, is that it leads to a decline in professionalism generally. I couldn’t care less if people have dogs/children/husbands/wives around when they’re working. As long as I don’t see or hear them during important work interactions. That should apply whether you’re in an outside home job or inside home job.

Are you brand new and junior? Probably not...

Why are you on the couch for an important teams meeting? And also in the room with the rest of the family with life going on as normal?
Id assume you weren’t taking your job seriously at all and be swiftly getting back to watching daytime TV with husband and dog straight after (who is also listening to a private work call).

Maybe it was more common and more acceptable in lockdown days when we were all just winging it, but not now.

People think it’s amusing and amiable to suddenly have their dog jump up on a call because some idiots will start cooing over it. Lots of people, including me, won’t say anything but be mentally rolling their eyes because it looks dopey, unprofessional and it wastes peoples time while you’re flustering and pandering to it. So YABU and you should try to do better.

Meetings on a sofa in the office is entirely different.

I would never react if someone joins a teams call and is sat on the sofa. But it would always strike me as unprofessional and make me wonder how focused they are.

That said, I have a couple of colleagues with chronic illness and they sometimes have to work propped up on the sofa and to me that's totally different as it's something they need in order to work.

I agree.

When I wfh I set up a space like I would in an office.

I told everyone when I was going on meetings and made sure pets and other people didn’t disturb me, phone was on silent, I had a notepad and pen etc.

This is why wfh isn’t for everyone as you still have to act in a professional manner, in some ways even more so.

When wfh I would never see clients whilst I was sat on my sofa.
It just looks unprofessional like you’re just sat in your front room whilst discussing their confidential matters.

I would treat the teams meetings with my colleagues with the same importance - especially in my first week.

Having a sofa in your office is different as that says you want the clients/your team to feel comfortable.
My boss has comfy chairs for this reason too.
It’s still professional.

Different work environments and different sectors have very different cultures. In some jobs this would be absolutely routine and normal. In a professional services role it would be highly frowned upon unless you were extremely senior.

But part of the job is learning how to behave appropriately for the environment. If OP was in a senior role and after five years the sofa wouldn't be a big deal but when you're starting out you need to err on the professional side. Someone who, a week into a new job, can't be bothered to find a quiet environment, get off the sofa or remove her dog from the room, looks very much like they can't be arsed or think it's all a bit of a laugh. It wouldn't inspire confidence in me.

I guess some people will hold first impressions, hopefully not too many.

I would make sure whenever your are on a call perhaps tell everyone at home before you join and close door so they don’t disturb. You don’t have want to the crazy teams person at work.

Hopefully everyone will forget soon!!

When I applied for my hybrid working position (3 days WFH and 2 days office) my employer stressed that my WFH days must replicate office days as closely as possibly. Prior to my job offer being formalised I had to show my WFH set up and clear rules were given to ensure that everyone knew what was expected. Were you not given clear guidelines of what was expected when you WFH? If that happened in my first week I would have been told to be in the office every day!

Well everyone knows who you are now. If it's recorded could go viral😄.

Thats a proper work space in the office though? Your sofa in your living room with not designated work space is a bit odd.

I would of laughed at the dog, my cats have been in teams meetings loads.

I wouldn't be sat on the sofa working in the living room though. We are supposed to have dedicated work spaces if we are working from home. Also things like a monitor and a proper chair or we have to go in the office. Also work calls are supposed to be confidential.

I would take a dim view of this especially in week 1. Sit on a proper chair to start with. I have a team of 40 odd, two thirds are remote.

I mean, it's unprofessional. Still made me laugh because my entire TL is full of ICE slaughter.

I’m shocked at people being outraged by the sofa. I always wfh on the sofa. In fact, I work in the office and hold meetings at a sofa!

Think it very much depends on the workplace culture. Personally, wouldn’t bat an eyelid over the dog- would find it funny.

However, working on couch and in shared space with husband I would have an issue with. For working you should be sat at a desk, and would expect some privacy. Otherwise I would be thinking you are not really fully concentrating on task at hand….esp as you are only one week in and have not yet built up your equity

Frankly there's so much bad in the world, that would have just made my day! People have lives and are not machines! Does your DH at least have a good voice? In my mind, I can hear a bass (which is really what the song calls for!) 😂

Absolutely pathetic.

I think if a one off that’s fine, I’d be more concerned that you took an important Teams call on the couch rather than having a designated work area. I see dogs, cats and kids on work calls all the time so wouldn’t bother me.

😆 Sorry but it's hilarious. Unprofessional, yes, but it made me laugh.
My pet hate is people coming onto Teams eating their lunch. Some high flying manager ooh look I'm so busy and it's 2pm and I haven't had time to eat. So bloody rude.
They won't sack you for it but be more organised in future.

Are you sure they heard your husband? My teams background noise cancelling is pretty amazing (sometimes too good) but maybe it was obvious and they were laughing?

This.

I'm normally pretty laid back and was expecting to find this amusing, but the combination of being sat on the couch and not being in a private place wouldn't go down well at work. It's really stressed to us that no one should be able to hear. I work upstairs and if I have a meeting I warn DH not to come bumbling in with a cuppa.