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?!

@BlueTitsRock

you would hate me - I often do my job from my bed. Just much more comfy than the table!

same, but I took voice calls and did typing I would not have a video meeting from bed.

Not saying it is wrong! I would not be bothered if other people did though

I wouldnt spend money on a desk without knowing if it was permanent or not
I'm really surprised anyone would expect that

Jealous much OP?

if you know that partial WFH is on the cards for at least the next year, I don't understand why you wouldn't spend a few quid on a desk. . Perhaps she isn't as organised perfect as you are.

A friend of mine works from her kitchen table or bedroom. Both are really unprofessional tbh. She complains non stop about it but refuses to buy a desk. She says she is very professional as her colleague zoom calls while IN bed.

After six months at home and with most people saying they prefer WFH, you'd think they could at least get a desk tbh with the money they have saved from commuting costs.

You sound overly invested,do you usually spend so much time on things that don't concern you?

Stop trying to blame her for mentioning a sore back, you're the one checking out her home and i wonder how the virtual home tour came about? If anything you both sound unprofessional and you come across as green with envy.

Get some virtual backgrounds, no one wants to see your bedroom whether the made bed is in view or not

if you know that partial WFH is on the cards for at least the next year, I don't understand why you wouldn't spend a few quid on a desk.

maybe there is no space for a desk? I don't have a spare room or corner for a desk. most houses and flats don't have this extra space.

@Alongcameacat

A friend of mine works from her kitchen table or bedroom. Both are really unprofessional tbh. She complains non stop about it but refuses to buy a desk. She says she is very professional as her colleague zoom calls while IN bed.

After six months at home and with most people saying they prefer WFH, you'd think they could at least get a desk tbh with the money they have saved from commuting costs.

Maybe she hasn't got the space for a desk somewhere else.

A lot of posters seem to think we all have homes big enough for an office, or a huge room to put a desk in as well as the existing furniture. I'd love one so I didn't have to look at the work shit on the dining table all the time but, like many others, don't have the room.

I don’t care enough to have an opinion on whether your colleague should get a ‘bloody’ desk or not. I do, however, think you should get a bloody life!

Maybe she hasn't got the space for a desk somewhere else
That is like saying someone doesn’t have space for a chair. Desks come in all sizes whether stand alone or wall mounted and if someone really wanted one, they’d make space for it.

My friend spends a lot of time telling me she doesn’t have room for a desk while refusing to move any existing furniture around. She doesn’t want one yet moans about it and also complains about her colleague’s unprofessionalism zooming in her bedroom.

That is like saying someone doesn’t have space for a chair. Desks come in all sizes whether stand alone or wall mounted and if someone really wanted one, they’d make space for it.

This proves my point. Some people live in another world! I have furniture that fits my living room. What do you suggest I do, get rid of a sofa? Maybe don't bother with a dining table?

That is like saying someone doesn’t have space for a chair. Desks come in all sizes whether stand alone or wall mounted and if someone really wanted one, they’d make space for it.

lol

Take it from someone who has a bad back - you are going to ruin your back if you consistently work from your bed or sofa.

Just ask them to prop their device somewhere static so that you are not distracted or made to feel dizzy by the dancing picture. I have asked that of a couple of people.
I also will often start the day emailing from bed. However, I would never do video calls from there and irrationally feel it is also obvious if I make phone calls from there

During lockdown, we interviewed, for a professional training programme which includes a question about professionalism as an interview question, someone who joined the video call in bed in their pyjamas. Near the end of the interview she said how much she had enjoyed the interview and that it was brilliant not having to get dressed for days 'but I will have to put some proper clothes on to nip to the supermarket later'. We did not offer her a place.

@FreidaMind

Take it from someone who has a bad back - you are going to ruin your back if you consistently work from your bed or sofa.

You don't have exactly the same back problem to everyone else so you can't say what will and won't ruin people's backs. Working on the bed means you can lie down sometimes which certainly makes a difference to my back pain.

I haven’t read this whole thread but I think it’s unprofessional. WFH means work as you would do in the office, but from a different location. It doesn’t mean work in PJs or on the couch.

Reminds me of people who take their shoes off at work

I know not everyone has the same back problem but for the vast majority using a desk and proper office chair does help. Prevention is much better than a cure with back problems.

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

Same. T shirt or hoody when I'm cold, pyjama bottoms below for comfort, shorts when it's too hot.

@FreidaMind

I know not everyone has the same back problem but for the vast majority using a desk and proper office chair does help. Prevention is much better than a cure with back problems.

I disagree. Lying down is a lot more comfortable for many people with back problems. You can't do that in an office there have to make do with the best chair possible. At home, not everyone owns an expensive office chair anyway.

@Plmoknijb123

I haven’t read this whole thread but I think it’s unprofessional. WFH means work as you would do in the office, but from a different location. It doesn’t mean work in PJs or on the couch.

Reminds me of people who take their shoes off at work

No it doesn't. There's no reason for working the same as you would in an office unless the job can't be done as well unless you do that .Working from home means getting the job done without going into an office.

I'm wearing shorts and a t shirt today with my hair scraped back as it needs washing. It doesn't mean I can't do my job. If anyone thinks I'm wearing work clothes when I'm at home they've got another think coming.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I'm wearing shorts and a t shirt today with my hair scraped back as it needs washing. It doesn't mean I can't do my job. If anyone thinks I'm wearing work clothes when I'm at home they've got another think coming.

I think people are only suggesting you dress according to the expectations of your workplace if you are actually seeing people.

I'm lucky, I work in academia. I have worked from home for years.
I am currently wearing cut off jeans, a band t.shirt, flip flops and have wet hair.
If I am on a zoom call with colleagues I could dress exactly the same.

If I was presenting at a virtual conference it would still be OK, but I'd probably dry my hair and put on a different top.

What annoys the people I work with more is if they can't hear me, or see me or understand what I'm talking about, or my internet is glitchy ie the actual work side of things.

Honestly people can choose where they want to sit at home. I hate sitting in the same place. I’m not used to just being in an office I travel around, so being stuck at home is hard work. I’m in a professional role on a decent salary but I live in a small two bed flat with my daughter. I bought a tiny desk to work at, but I move between that and my sofa and my bed to work on. No one has an issue, and why would they? I’m still working, it’s what’s comfortable for me, and I’m sorry being forced to work at home during a pandemic means I’ll do what keeps me mental well and not worry about being judged by those who are uptight. As long as she’s delivering the work there is absolutely no issue. Not all of us are blessed by lovely workspaces in our homes. And also, no I’m not dressed up as I would be if I was in the office or chairing meetings. Why would I? I’m in my house! People can only see my head and shoulders!

There's no reason for working the same as you would in an office unless the job can't be done as well unless you do that .Working from home means getting the job done without going into an office.

By that reasoning. you could wear whatever you like to the office if not customer facing?

Some employers have a standard of dress - usually smart casual - because they think people act more professionally when dressed in smart (er) than their usual clothes.

I’m sure research has shown this to be the case. I worked somewhere that had a dress down day once a week. They stopped it because productivity dropped significantly on that day of the week.