Is this the new norm? Working from café

[Oneborneverydecade]

I haven't worked in an office for a while but my DH works from home. He's able to be home for meetings but obviously I appreciate some people need to visit clients etc.

I'm between jobs atm and spending too much time (and money) in local cafes. Often someone will start a work video call or telephone call.

I try to ignore and focus on my phone. It's only if it goes on for some time that I start to get frustrated.

Is it rude to dominate the space with a work call? Isn't it frustrating for the other person, trying to hear over the background noise (today it's the Bee Gees, lady is loudly discussing her maternity pay situation)

My workplace has made a big reduction in office space and staff are required to work from home for three days a week. Fine for me, I have space at home to allow me a dedicated workspace. Not so great for a lot of my younger colleagues who live in house shares and who have to work sitting on their beds. As long as they take the necessary security measures I’d far rather see them working in a cafe. Much better for their mental and musculoskeletal health. And while I work in a sector where some of my meetings mustn’t be overheard, there are plenty where no sensitive material is discussed that I could have in a public space.

Clearly there's a huge gap in the market for decent co-working spaces

Mumsnet is batshit 😂 can't go to a cafe with a toddler, can't go with a dog, can't go if you are working, or on the phone. If the cafe was just for socialising and not for any of these people my local wouldn't be in business. The entitlement of people who think they get to dictate what's socially acceptable in establisments they don't own 😂 guarantee they want the mums and dog walkers and workers multiple times a week more than you who dips in once a fortnight sneering at their customers you don't approve of.

These are expensive.

This!!!

Hallelujah it's great to see I'm not the only one who thinks this.

Yes a bit cheeky, if they’re not being loud and obnoxious with speaking loudly dominating the atmosphere it’s ok, if they do then that’s wrong. Yes they eeek out one coffee over a couple of hours. Most of us go there to escape work not listen to more of it!

Gosh I love it. I work in our local Starbucks for probably 20 hours a week spread across 5 days. It’s isolating working at home alone. The pandemic caused such huge issues with many people’s mental health and we have no offices to go back to. The staff have almost become my coworkers - as have other regulars who use the space.
Like with any use of a public space, courtesy goes a long way.
I would never frown at other users using the cafe as they wish to. It’s my choice to be there in the environment as it is theirs.

I spend about £10-15 a day in there so staff don’t mind. I get lots of freebies which is nice of them.

I always wear headphones, I have seen some people have their meetings without so you can hear everyone and they turn up the volume high, that makes no sense to me!

I choose carefully which meetings I will do there, nothing that is sensitive as I’m an adult and can judge what is appropriate and what is not.

I have been surprised with the amount of people who also then bring their dogs in, the other day I was in a meeting and someone’s dog kept climbing on my lap but it’s my choice to be in a public space.

If was a cafe owner I’d be more annoyed by the people with people who come in and make such a mess. When I did baby led weaning, I actually picked up all the mess after my child and didn’t expect the cafe staff to tidy up for me, or people who come in and don’t buy a drink - I’ve seen that a lot and that surprises me too!

and fine if you're self employed and want somewhere more sociable to work from, otherwise it's just passing office costs on to the employee rather than employer.

I think it's fine if it's done with consideration. So no loud video calls.

I was in a cafe recently and the table next to me had what I assume were students on it. They were working on laptops and had empty coffee cups when I arrived. Three hours later, when I left, they hadn't bought anything else, but had eaten their lunches which they'd brought with them in tupperware boxes. I thought that was taking the piss rather!

I've been interviewed in a cafe, it's quite normal here and I didn't feel at a disadvantage at all, why would I? I also can't see what is wrong with working in a cafe, once again it's normal here (not the UK). I've yet to see a cafe with people queuing for a table while people sat working at one.

@sadlittlelifejane

Agreed.

Ain't that the truth 😂

Job interviews are nerve wracking without being held in public. I would hate the next table listening to my attempts at getting a job.

Well said!

Yes, I used to rock up at my local cafe every week. I always bought a coffee and my lunch there, I didn’t take up a big table or hold phone conversations. No big deal.

I shared a table with a bloke working from a cafe a few weeks ago. There were no free tables, so I asked and he said to go ahead and take the other side of the table. He tapped away at his laptop while having his coffee. I got half a sleeve of a jumper knitted while I had mine.

I don’t mind people working, or dogs, or toddlers. My gripes, which I seem to share with many others here, are those people who can’t moderate their volume, and those who think their work trumps anybody else’s reason for being in the cafe.

I'd cheerily sit down and join her.

There are usually five of us, which is why it is so irritating. But hey, we should!

You totally should.

"Hope it's OK for us to join you, there are five free seats at your table and none of the other tables seat five!" should get the message across.

I'd have to join her at the table with my toddler & his cup of orange squash.

🤣🤣🤣🤣. “How dare you breathe when I’m trying to work in MY office “
🤣

To be fair I don’t think I’d order more than one coffee/drink and hour no matter what I was there for.

I work in cafes sometimes. I don't do meetings or
Long calls. I schedule those for when I have privacy

Dont need general public hearing my business

How do you all know the workers have only ordered one coffee and stayed all day?

Are you keeping a note?

My workplace wouldn't be happy with this. Likely an unsecured WiFi connection, could be discussing private company information, or private company/customer/colleague information visible on screen.