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?!

I'm not being funny, but some of us have been doing these meetings for the past 6 months with screaming kids and barking dogs running about. Everyone's situation is different, and we're all trying to make the best of the unknown. Don't be so judgey.

The wobbling is awful and you should call her out on it. On the other hand how depressing to have a desk in your living room and to be reminded of work 24/7? At least she can put the laptop away and escape from work for a bit. (I know not everyone has the luxury of working elsewhere but your colleague does have the option of putting her things away at night and on a weekend at the moment - a desk would be ever present).

DSE checks at home? I'm giggling at that. I work for a law firm and there's no way they'd be checking on us at home but in fairness we were never really banned from the office per se so their response would always have been "well you can work in the office if you're uncomfortable at home" which is fair enough I suppose.

I definitely wouldn't have my bed in the background of a video call OP, not even just in my small, informal team meetings. I work in our bedroom too with the bed behind me but if I have a video call (rare) I either turn my whole deal set-up around so behind me just becomes a bare wall, or I sit on the sofa. I don't really find the laptop jiggles too much on my knees if I stay still but I will often put it on the arm of the sofa instead to avoid that like PP mentioned.

I've no issue with her working from her sofa (other than whinging to me about her back) but the constantly moving screen as she balances it on her knee is really distracting. I might suggest one of those pull around tables or a beanbag tray.

‘Britain is probably the only country I know about where most people seem to not have space for tables🙄 incl folding ones’

British houses are some of the smallest in the world. Many are built below the recommended level of space.

“Call her out” on a wobbly screen sounds a bit dramatic 😁

YABU I've worked from March lockdown all the way through from my sofa. My husband had the dining room table and the children used our spare room for their games room. I've been constantly on call and available when required and this has been the most comfortable position for me. I still get the work done and my boss has been working from his greenhouse. Lovely to hear the birds.

Agree just give feedback that her camera is wobbling and is it POSs for her to secure it better somehow.
I work with colleagues who don’t have a study or spare room or kitchen table or space in any room for a table. I’m grateful and ‘humbled’ by what I can see to be the work-arounds that people are coming up with. I don’t care if someone is sitting on their bed ! Just appreciate clothed and present and able to take part without embarrassment.
Not all set ups will accommodate work-provided chairs and desks etc and many workplaces are not providing these.

I get that we were all placed in shit situations when this kicked off. Me included (two kids and both of us WFH) but honestly, 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. You can get ones that assemble in 60 seconds so you get your living room back at the end of it.

My issues would be:
1 the wobbling of the screen - this I would be highlighting that it is off-putting, unprofessional and actually difficult to watch as needs addressing.
2 I would also be suggesting that she completes hse home working assessments if she's complaining on a bad back as there could be a potential claim there if she were the type and potential for sickness leave, so I'd nudge her to speak with HR and H&S officer.
3 if she needs a desk for work, then work should be paying or providing.
4 if she's choosing not to have a desk due to aesthetics that's her choice but points 1 to 3 need acknowledging

Honestly I feel like location of working is compromised for so many people right now and has been for long enough that most people wouldn't think any less of anyone for working on a sofa, in a bedroom, kitchen, anywhere.

She may be on x amount of money but that doesn't mean she has somewhere else she can sit to work or can be as productive and comfortable working.

I have had to do calls with a child interrupting me, building going on outside the window, people knocking at the door part way through and a kitten jumping all over the place. All normally unprofessional but given the circumstances can be overlooked and the work being presented is of a good standard and unaffected by all of the above.

I work from my bed. No other space.
But I have bought a desk tray so I can put laptop on it to have video calls where laptop is at eye height, rather than it on lap.
She should have laptop on a stable surface for external calls, even if it's coffee table and she sits on floor.

I move around the house according to what I’m doing.

Informal meetings are done from kitchen, formal ones from the study but I spend a huge amount of time working from my bed and I keep the camera off during that time.

Has no one in your workplace heard of a workstation assessment?! One needs to get done asap for your colleague.

If people are still sitting on sofas, hunched over laptops then they are at risk of future back trouble. Their employers are still responsible for their health and safety even when WFH so are risking legal action if they allow it to continue.

This is about the salary not the sofa. I suspect you don't like her for this reason and so looking for things to judge on.

I'd rather see a sofa than someone's bed tbh.

Though wobbling isn't good.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

‘Britain is probably the only country I know about where most people seem to not have space for tables🙄 incl folding ones’

British houses are some of the smallest in the world. Many are built below the recommended level of space.

You see, one would think that with hundreds of years of small houses people came up with some standard smart solutions like folding, sliding furniture etc...

@FirelighterGirl

This is about the salary not the sofa. I suspect you don't like her for this reason and so looking for things to judge on.

I'd rather see a sofa than someone's bed tbh.

Though wobbling isn't good.

I realise you likely don't have a choice as to where you work but still don't like to see beds. It's too intimate

I would simply be diplomatic and point out that you had problems following what she was saying during the meeting because her laptop was wobbling...IF it really was an issue that affected the smooth running of the meeting with a client.

The rest is irrelevant. I am not quite sure why this bothers you so much to be honest...

I had to take one zoom meeting sitting on my sofa simply because the table I usually use was needed for another purpose at that time. It happens, no one is perfect...

It's not about her salary. She earns a lot more than me because she is incredibly experienced and good at her job. I don't begrudge her that at all. But I can't understand why she complains about her back and being uncomfortable while working with her laptop on her lap. I'd fully support her asking our company to provide her with a desk, I don't necessarily think she should pay for one herself.

The first thing I thought about was her poor back !

Seems we’re lucky. We have a system where basically we can order equipment via work to make things easier at home. I’ve been provided with a chair, fold up desk, large screen to attach to lap top, and have a list of their equipment options. Must be costing the company a fortune. We also had a DSE check at the beginning of wfh, and have another coming up.

YABU

Surely no ones business as long as she gets her work done?

I often move to the sofa for a zoom call for a change of seat. Usually work from the kitchen table, but have been known to sit on my bed (not for zoom calls).

@LouiseNW

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

Absolutely. I frequently speak to my senior manager in his camper van. Couldn’t give a shit where he works to be honest.

Have you actually said to her - when she moans about her back - "have you thought about getting a desk and chair? mine was only £50, its done wonders for me"

Unless you say something, you cant expect a change in her behaviour. Just give that as a response whenever she moans.

If there is a boss above this person and they ask you for feedback on the client call or something mention you think she came across a bit unprofessional with her setup. They'll get onto them about getting a desk too.

Otherwise the passive moaning to us will achieve nothing.