Working from a coffee shop?

[ManhattanNY]

Let me firstly caveat this by saying I have no more than a passing curiosity. I’m not upset or anything like that, I just wondered if this is usual? It’s a lighthearted thread. I’m not trying to judge or shame. I’m simply bored on a Sunday and wondering.

DH and I were free yesterday, so I suggested a drive to our local Costa, where we could sit down and chat about an upcoming trip, with a coffee and one of their yummy Bakewell tarts.

When we got there around 10am it was heaving, without a single table spare. DH and I have a favourite seat in the corner and a man was working there on his laptop. No problem, we decided to leave it for today and do something else instead.

We went to the next town and visited Primark, did some other bits. Paid a visit to MiL and then went to Sainsbury’s, did some shopping, mainly cupboard stuff.

On route home around 5.15pm DH said, come on, let’s get that Costa, so we popped in. This time lots of free tables, so got our coffee and enjoyed 45 mins. But I noticed that the guy from that morning was still on his laptop in the corner seat.

As I say, just curious. I’ve never thought of working all day from a coffee shop, but I could see why it’s nice. Of course I’m assuming he’s working, I guess he could be gaming. But it also seems a bit impolite to take up a table all day - I guess he’s paying for drinks though.

just curious if this is a thing and how long do you spend on your coffee shop visits?

I used to do this years ago as first a student and then with a remote job, used to spend a couple of hours and buy food and drink, the one I went to used to advertise it as a thing, come use our fast wifi and eat our food type thing.

And of course it’s warm and cosy, which I guess a lot of people’s homes aren’t at the moment 😔

I would find concentration difficult in that kind of environment, however for some people free WiFi is attractive if it's on offer.

If he's buying food and drink through the day it's fine. If he only bought one coffee and has hogged the table all day he's being a bit cheeky.

I'm more intrigued that you didn't stay because he was in your favourite place tbh.

That's not quite how caffs work.

I have no issue with it as long as:

1. They purchase food and drinks (more than once if there all day!)

1. They're not on loud conference calls.

1. They don't take up a table for 4 people if it's just them and their laptop.

Number 2 and 3 are my pet hate.

We did. 😂

As I said, the first time we went into the coffee shop, it was packed so there were no seats. We didn’t want to stand around waiting.

The second time we went in, sat at another table and had a lovely coffee and cake.

Well, I wouldn’t presume how many drinks they bought. They may well have spent a small fortune on coffee. They weren’t on any calls when we were there…but they were on the table with the sofa and the two armchairs.

I do this every now and then, I'm 100% WFH with no office in this country that I could use. While that's perfect for me 99.9% off the time, sometimes I just fancy being somewhere other than at my desk, with the bustle of people around me.

I make sure I buy regular drinks to fund my place at a table and if it gets busy I leave to free up my seat, but sometimes change of scenery just helps re-energise me.

Good point. WFH must make you feel quite isolated at times!

I would get so distracted by people watching to get any actual work done hats off to those of you are productive and fund table!

I’ve been told I’m not allowed to due to the data we hold, should the laptop get stolen/lost etc.
I have been tempted mind, and may go for an hour or so next week as it’s quiet in work.
I wouldn’t stay all day, no.

I spend all afternoon in my local cafe on Fridays. I WFH and get cabin fever.

We live in a tourist town so in winter some cafes specifically advise for people to come work in their cafes. They're lovely. If you're buying food and drinks why not.

That sounds like a poor excuse. Any good IT team should be able to shut down a computer remotely in seconds, should anything happen! Go enjoy your coffee and cake 🤣

Presumably he's buying coffee & food?

Or perhaps he works for Costa?

I wouldn’t do it because I hate tea/coffee and would find a lot of people around quite distracting, plus I use 2 screens so it wouldn’t work for me. I have a really nice office set up for myself at home and mostly everyone is out all day when I’m working so the house is quiet too.
However not everyone has the space to dedicate a room to their work with a door that shuts, I still know so many people who work from their dining table in a busy household and I would imagine they sometimes go to a coffee shop or similar so they are interrupted by their own family members.
I guess the time if might become quite annoying would be if someone was sitting at a table for 4 and they only needed one space - but even then if you asked maybe they wouldn’t mind you joining the other side of the table!

I’ve been thinking of doing this occasionally my only my worry is that I work with confidential data so it would have to be a table with a wall behind it so no one could see. I would by drinks. My other worry is the temptation of 🧁

My local cafe has a notice up which says no laptops.

I've been in a couple of cafes recently where they have a sign up saying laptops and calls are banned. These are independent places so I guess they were getting frustrated with people hogging tables and not buying enough - it's hard to buy enough coffees in a day to make up for the all the customers who would have otherwise used the table.

And that’s when you say “anyone sitting here? Mind if we take the sofa?” I’ve had it said to me, and said it to others and it’s never been an issue either way?

I hope your employer has beefed up your home security to Fort Knox standards…if not, they’re talking out of their arse and just want to know where you are

edited for typing issues 🙄

Presumably the coffee shop are ok with it.

Our friends run a cafe and are very happy for people to work there including making calls. They have regulars who have breakfast, lunch and drinks and are there most of the day a few times a week.

but they were on the table with the sofa and the two armchairs.

I think that is cheeky-whole families could sit at the table.

Hardly unreasonable for an employer to judge that the risk of a laptop being stolen or lost is higher if you take it out of your home to use in a public place

I do this every now and then as I WFH a lot.
I have done some of my best work in coffee shops.
I love the buzz, the people watching, I work effortlessly.

However I must caveat that I go at off peak times, I’d never sit there at lunch, I’ll rebuy tea or food etc so won’t sit there with nothing and if I’m finished and I see tables are full ill
leave. I never mindlessly hold onto a table when others are waiting if I’ve been there a while.