People who 'work' at cafe tables

[BeagleMum1]

Why do cafe's allow this? I'm sitting in a cafe and over half the tables are being sat at, by a single person on laptop, 'working'. These tables could seat up to 4 people. Some have bought a cafe drink but others are just sitting there without a drink or food.

They are table blocking and at busier times, will prevent other customers who might buy more drinks / food from getting a seat. AIBU?

I'm often on my own at cafes when I'm not working. Are you saying lone people shouldn't be in cafes at all?

Are you saying that if a lone person walks into a cafe and there are no tables for one or two available they should just leave?

No, obviously not, context is everything. I'm meaning when they purposely choose a larger table when there are smaller tables available. That's just lack of common decency/common sense.

When the two of us have been in a busy cafe on a table for 4 or 6 (all that was available when we came in), (or a table for 4 on a train). we've happily moved without asking when we've seen a bigger group looking for a table and there's been a table/seats for 2 that was empty. Same when we see people stood around waiting and we've nearly finished our meal or drinks - we'll make an effort to speed up a little and signal to them when we're ready to leave.

I thought that's what any normal person would do. Isn't it??

A popular café near me has introduced a minimum spend per day/half day to prevent this kind of thing, it generally adds up to water + coffee + cake if you plan to only spend the morning or afternoon or the cost of water + Coffee + a full lunch if you're staying all day. They've also banned people bringing their own water bottles. (they don't enforce this hugely but people where coming buying a coffee and then sitting their all day drinking their own water from a bottle)
Lots of people moaned when it was first done but they were losing revenue from their lunch time rush as they had tables blocked by people who had been their all day and bought nothing more than a hot drink.

I was that library person walking into a cage and the only table they had free was a 6 seater. I wasn't going to take up more space than I needed while there was a queue behind me. I went elsewhere.

Lone obviously, not library.

good grief, life is too short to martyr yourself. Of course don't be a dick, but no, it' s not "normal" not to relax but be on the lookout ready to give up your table, rush through the end of your meal to give your table 🙄

No one is expecting someone to faff around grabbing cup/ plates and all their belonging to make a big scene of moving table. If they can it's nice, but it's not "expected".

If I am rushing, I have a take-away. Let people breathe and sit down in peace. I prefer people who read or have a laptop to the noisy ones anyway.

Unless expressly requested otherwise by the restaurant, people shouldn't order food until they have a table anyway, saves so much drama to start with.

if everyone behind you just wanted a take-away, I am sure the cafe was delighted to lose a customer 🙄

There were groups, and I wanted to sit down. Owner of the cafe actually apologised and thanked me.

My 'gripe' was observing single people sitting at tables that could seat up to 4 people, working on laptops.

OMG, SINGLE people! Social pariahs. They must make way for people who don't work but who have friends. YABU just for that.

Well; this escalated. It's nearly the weekend guys, go get yourselves to the pub and relax

I am sticking to the Cafe with my laptop now, it's too funny 😂

I think this is fine if the cafe isn't full anyway and most people would buy something. I have never worked in a cafe but I wouldn't do so and not even buy a drink.

I expect the owners would ask them to
leave if they refused to buy drinks or the tables were needed for bigger parties.

"performative" 😂
My partner is field based (sales) He works from home a couple of days a week and the rest of the time is on the road. He frequently works from cafes and pubs as he can get a seat, a table and WiFi. It's just not possible to pop home in between visits.

Single as in a solitary human. I have no idea about their marital status.🤣

@Roundaboot

Oh he will be very 'performative' if he's in sales. Loud calls.....teams meetings.....the lot.

I think they allow it up to the point it becomes problematic. If it’s problematic, they usually have signs up - either restricting how long/when/which areas can be used by people working on laptops.

if it’s problematic in the place you’ve visited, you could point out to them that you and friend wanted to buy coffee/cake and have a catchup but couldn’t as there are loads of laptop workers. Then they can choose to take action or not, I suppose depending on whether the laptop workers are having tap water and using the cafe as unpaid workspace or having a meal and a couple of coffees over a few hours and providing enough profit.

I know someone who spends £300 a month on WFH in cafes. He is definitely not hogging the same drink for hours at a time.

If it was a problem, the café bosses would not allow it.

Yabu. Chill out a bit. Cafes are supposed to be places to relax and not worry about freeing up the table. I'd be happy if I saw this as I'd know the atmosphere would be chilled

One local cafe has a row of benches along the wall with small tables and charger points, for laptop jockeys.

All other tables have big signs saying No Laptops.

It really works. There's space for everyone

Also the WiFi password is something like BuyCoffee

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap82c1zOdPw

So people with laptops should sit on the small wobbly tables?

Or the ones that are below knee height?

No.

Perfectly reasonable to sit at the proper table. If it's busy and you want to sit down, then sit down.

YANBU it’s a nightmare for cafe owners. Less so for the staff who still get paid the same for doing less work.😂
seriously though, far too many people do this and see nothing wrong with it. Asking them to leave isn’t really an option, and they can table block all day long.

Reading back the thread. OP, I suggest you go and get a coffee. You seem a little over cranky.

Is anyone else thinking of the episode from Motherland where Julia works from a cafe and tries to get the random man to act as her unpaid PA? Brilliant episode!