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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WF "Home" question

299 replies

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:15

I am in the lucky position to WFH 5 days a week. Of course this happened in COVID, and I have since secured this permeantly. I'm good at my job and at this stage don't feel the need to "network" and be physically present at work.

One of the benefits of wfh is that I don't have to commute and can also fit in hobbies and exercise in the day. Twice a week at lunch (which is 1.5hrs) I like to go to my local gym/ Spa and really relax / switch off. To fit this in, I then work from the spa in the afternoon. There's a private booth in the cafe with no outside noise and because I'm a regular customer I have the space reserved for the afternoon automatically.

Here's the issue. On one occasion the laptop moved and my line manager could see someone at the spa walking around in their robe. Nothing more. She is now saying that wfh means your home and that I can't work from the spa two afternoons a week. I think her attitude is discriminatory and is impinging on my own health. I work much better from the spa and all the work is done with my body benefiting from a full body massage before an afternoon of work. She says that me working from the spa will affect colleagues who have not been allowed to wfh. I've looked at my wfh contact and nothing i am doing is not allowed. I have a good mind to work from the spa every afternoon now to prove my point !

OP posts:
404usernotfound · 15/10/2023 14:17

YABVU and are taking the micky. A classic case of give an inch and take a mile.

WhateverMate · 15/10/2023 14:18

😂😂😂😂

Such an outrage!

mynameiscalypso · 15/10/2023 14:18

I think contractually, you're probably fine but I think if I was one of your colleagues who hadn't been allowed to WFH, I'd think you were pretty cheeky and I'd be pretty annoyed about it. A 1.5 hour lunch break also seems quite unusual but I haven't had a lunch break for years!

YoDood · 15/10/2023 14:19

Discriminatory! 😂

chipsandpeas · 15/10/2023 14:19

i smell a reverse

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/10/2023 14:19

I wouldn’t be allowed because I can’t use public wifi. I think you’re being ridiculous, wfh is a soft benefit, not written into most contracts. Wfh is a privilege I wouldn’t keep pushing it.

NotTerfNorCis · 15/10/2023 14:20

I don't see a problem if you're working your hours.

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 14:20

If you carry on like this they'll just haul everyone back into the office full time.

JamieFrasersBitOnTheSide · 15/10/2023 14:21

chipsandpeas · 15/10/2023 14:19

i smell a reverse

I smell bullshit. 😂

mynameiscalypso · 15/10/2023 14:21

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/10/2023 14:19

I wouldn’t be allowed because I can’t use public wifi. I think you’re being ridiculous, wfh is a soft benefit, not written into most contracts. Wfh is a privilege I wouldn’t keep pushing it.

That's a good point. I wouldn't allow my team to do this expect as an urgent one-off because of security reasons (both public WiFi but also being heard on calls in public)

Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 15/10/2023 14:21

Take a picture of your usual home office backdrop, set it as your teams background- problem solved

WeWereInParis · 15/10/2023 14:21

In what way would this be discriminatory?

It also sounds annoying to other people in the spa. I know you're in the cafe bit, but still, no one wants to hear your work calls.

That said, plenty of people do work from regular cafes and it's not seen as an issue for their employer, so I'm not sure why the cafe being a spa cafe would make a difference to your manager.

wfh is a soft benefit, not written into most contracts

But it is written into the OP's.

Original poster
CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:21

From my point of view I think it is the same as working in a hired work space away from the office (we work or similar) which other colleagues do. I can't see how line manager can force me to change wfh location. 1.5 hr lunch break is also to fit in a daily admin task that is important (30 mins allocated) but I do this before work in the time I would previously be commuting

OP posts:
BelBabe · 15/10/2023 14:22

What protected characteristic are they discriminating against by not letting you work at a spa?

I think you know yourself you're being unreasonable.

Toottooot · 15/10/2023 14:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mynameiscalypso · 15/10/2023 14:22

As a manager, I'd also assume you weren't really working to be honest but using the spa facilities in the afternoon too when you weren't on a call.

WhateverMate · 15/10/2023 14:23

chipsandpeas · 15/10/2023 14:19

i smell a reverse

Well I can certainly smell something

smooththecat · 15/10/2023 14:24

Get one of those cheesy backgrounds on your calls so they don’t know where you are. Perhaps a swimming pool one.

TolkiensFallow · 15/10/2023 14:24

I can’t believe this is real.

If it is, zoom calls at a spa are unacceptable and will ruin the spa vibe for others.

oh, and you’re taking the piss.

Original poster
CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:24

mynameiscalypso · 15/10/2023 14:21

That's a good point. I wouldn't allow my team to do this expect as an urgent one-off because of security reasons (both public WiFi but also being heard on calls in public)

Show quote history

I use my mobile phone network as hotspot so not public WiFi. As I said already, the spa cafe has private booths which are enclosed so no sound disturbance/ privacy issue.

OP posts:
StJulian2023 · 15/10/2023 14:24

Why on earth weren’t you using a background on your call?!

Yes if I was your manager I’d also assume you weren’t working all your hours, even if you are.

cremona · 15/10/2023 14:26

YABVU not to protect better against your manager realising where you were.

Personally so long as you’re delivering the work as well and as quickly as you would in the office I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong, but it’s common sense to realise that what you’re doing would feel like a real poke in the eye to colleagues who do have to go into the office, and be bad for their morale. I’ve been the colleague who had the work in the office while others work at their convenience at home, and it’s shit.

You’re part of a company, so while part of your job is to deliver your own work, it’s also part of your job not to needlessly piss off or upset your colleagues. If that’s too much of a burden then maybe you would be better off setting up your own business and working for yourself.

BubleBath · 15/10/2023 14:26

3/10

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 15/10/2023 14:26

Bathrobe?.. whatever next OP? Massage table…….

Bellsandthistle · 15/10/2023 14:26

Well there is a privacy issue if people are walking around in robes in the background… 😂
I can’t believe you’re cross because you can’t have your massage before you work the afternoon.

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