To think working from your sofa is unprofessional?

[LajesticVantrashell]

Like most people, I’ve been working at home now for close to six months along with the rest of my colleagues. We have a spare room for an office, so I’ve had to set up in our bedroom working from my vanity table/desk where I normally do my make-up.

My colleague, so as not to drip feed, earns considerably more than me (think £30k more) and lives alone paying a nominal amount of rent in relation to her salary (I know this because she told me). Yet, she works from her sofa every day. Yes, none of my business, she can do what she wants but she’s constantly moaning about her back and being uncomfortable.

Yesterday, we had a meeting with a potential client and we all dialled in. We all had certain bit we needed to present and my colleague was again, sitting on her sofa with her laptop on her knees. This meant the screen was wobbling about everywhere as she scrabbled to reach her notes around her. To me, it just looked completely unprofessional and I’ll admit, it really annoyed me.

So AIBU to think that on a high earning salary, with enough space in your living room (because I can see from the Teams calls) and after six months with potentially long term home working being suggested, that she should invest in a bloody desk?!

YABU. I really wouldn't care. I don’t have a desk and couldn't buy one as they were out of stock everywhere. People in my office are working from beds and sofas as they don't have an office space or place to put one

My husband works from our dining room table.

don't think your attitude has to be so judgemental.

Just tell her that her laptop is wobbling a huge amount and that's very distracting, can she come up with another solution to have unwobbly telecons.

Rest is none of your business.

You'd love me. I barely even get dressed for Teams calls.

You sound a bit...uptight.

Work should supply desks surely?

Yes she can work from where she likes - long as the work is done that's all that matters.

We have an office in our house but hubby uses it as he has 2 screens. When I first started wfh in lockdown I sat at the dining room table but got a horrendous backache, plus my work went really quiet so I moved to the sofa where it is much more comfortable. That being said when I have meetings I sit the laptop on the arm of the sofa so that it doesn't keep moving about like it would on my lap.

To clarify, unless I've got a meeting I sit in my scruffs too. My husband works from the dining table in our living room.

We all made do at the beginning of this, but surely if WFH is becoming a long term option, then you'd look to get a home set up that works a bit better?

Your workplace should be providing a desk (plus chair, monitors etc). DH's did, and mine would have done.

YABVVU

You really don't like her do you? This woman who earns £30k more than you......

I agree actually. Sometimes I sit on the sofa to work (in my Jamies)but if I am on a call with a client I make sure I look presentable and am at a table or desk. She could at least get a tray table

most of your post sounds like jealous whining.
Wobbly laptop and scrabbling for notes does sound unprofessional - but does she have a desk/table she can use?

She’s going to seriously fuck her back up carrying in like that.

I agree it’s unprofessional, especially if she knew the client call was scheduled.

Surely there must be a table in the house she could use? I work from my kitchen table, it’s not ideal but works fine for me.

I like her. The point I made about money is that she can clearly afford a desk (mine was £50!) has the space in her living room, but works from her sofa and complains about her back.

I work from my sofa too usually but if I was on a video call with a potential client, I would definitely move so that it looked more professional.

Working in your bedroom - does that mean colleagues can see your bed in the calls? That wouldn’t be professional either.

Why do you care? It’s nothing to do with you

I agree OP. Especially if she's doing a presentation as you say. It doesn't take much to get a better set up, which will benefit everyone.

Does she have kids? A flatshare? A friend/parent/family member staying? You have no idea about her home life, therefore the settee may be the best place.

I always answered my calls from the tidiest point of my house. It's less unprofessional to answer a call from her settee than from the kitchen table with her pants drying on the airer in the background or last night's lasagne dish soaking in the sink!

You don't know anything about her finances so it's not your place to judge.

Yes - they can see my made bed in the background. Just like I can see my MD's spare bed when I speak to him.

I think YABU.

I worked from the sofa until a couple of weeks ago, having been WFH since March.

The thing is lockdown was only ever expected to be temporary and has gone on longer than most people thought, and is likely to go on longer.

I didn't want to give up the little room we have in our living room (DH wfh in the study and I don't think working from our bedroom is a good idea) or have the expense of buying a desk of it was only going to be for a couple of months - others probably have similar reasons.

How a colleague chooses to wfh wouldn’t bother me at all. If she can get her work done sat on the sofa that is really all that matters. It is up to her whether she puts a desk in her living room or not. There is enough space in my living room for a desk but I don’t want one in here.

No kids, no flatshare, no family staying. I know about a lot of her life because she's my colleague. But that still doesn't stop me questioning why someone would work from a place that was making them uncomfortable.

@Dita73

Why do you care? It’s nothing to do with you

Well, I'm assuming that a call with a potential client is an attempt by the company that the OP works for to win some business and make some money so if they don't get the work, it won't be good for her.

Someone could work for me from a treehouse for all I care, if they were efficient and effective.