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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:
Brefugee · 15/10/2023 15:07

so all you need to do, OP, is tell them you won't do it again, and carry on as before.

MyGoatIsTheGOAT · 15/10/2023 15:09

It's probably best to check with HR as your manager is raising it as an issue. Most people I know who work at home are allowed to work from anywhere, they only have to inform their workplace if they will be working from another country. My friend who works from home in England is currently working in the US as a relative is ill. Her employer is fine with it as long as the work is done. She often works at my house on a Friday so she can spend the weekend with us or from cafes for a change.

Lizzt2007 · 15/10/2023 15:09

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:24

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.

Show quote history

Obviously not private enough if they saw someone in a robe in the background.

Ssme92 · 15/10/2023 15:09

I was probably too relaxed after my lunchtime massage to foresee this !

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 What a dose!

23Oct · 15/10/2023 15:10

I don't see anything wrong with this. Lots of people work from cafes as part of remote working?

Unless she has an issue with your productivity, or use of public wifi, there's no grounds for complaint.

Thegoodbadandugly · 15/10/2023 15:10

Your having a laugh right? Your at a spa and supposed to be working what else do you think people are going to think?

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 15/10/2023 15:11

What job do you have that funds TWO full body massages a week? Honestly if you're that in need of massage you should do regular yoga etc 😂

And yes working from the spa is ridiculous.

TodayForTomorrow · 15/10/2023 15:14

The cafe is different because even before Covid, some people may have used coffee shops between meetings or during a wait time on a commute for instance. It became part of reasonable etiquette, though generally before the days of virtual meetings, which in my view, should always be done from home or one of those shared WFH office spaces.

1month · 15/10/2023 15:15

I was probably too relaxed after my lunchtime massage to foresee this !

🤣🤣

I love it!!

Whenever half term comes around there are always threads to keep me entertained.

2023shady · 15/10/2023 15:17

I don't really see the issue as such
I can work anywhere but there are certain things I have to have in place - it has to be quiet, I'm on the phone all day so can't really be somewhere public or I would piss people off. I can't have noise like a washing machine on etc
And I use a VPN

Realistically that means I work from home! Or my dads if he is away

TerfTalking · 15/10/2023 15:19

So your employers have no policies on data protection, privacy in the workplace, customer information, nothing? I’m pretty sure they do and working from a spa breaches them.

several years after Covid, do they even have a WFH policy, my former employer did, from 2000 onwards, and working from a public place was absolutely not permitted!

NatashaDancing · 15/10/2023 15:19

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.

I know you're in the cafe bit, but still, no one wants to hear your work calls.

Depending on what the work is, there may very well be people very interested in hearing them. The person on the other end of the line may however be less than thrilled.

VisaWoes · 15/10/2023 15:20

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

I know how your line manager can change your location. Your employer can give you 30 days notice of any change to your contract they like. Technically it’s meant to be a consultation but ime it was unilaterally imposed and told if I did not accept the new contract (at a different town an hour away) I would be dismissed. I left.

So I’m sure your line manager can have you back in the office at any point if they think they’d rather do that which they may if you carry on in their eyes taking the piss.

WhateverMate · 15/10/2023 15:23

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:43

I'll certainly be using a blurred background from now on, thank you for the tip! The booth is enclosed but I nudged the laptop and it swiveled outwards pointing at the glass side to booth. I'm not sure why the other lady was in a robe as that's not allowed in the cafe!

Just STOP now! 😂😂😂

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

One small victory was that I mentioned the incident to the club manager and I've noticed a new sign in the spa saying robes are not permitted in the cafe area.
Just to reiterate that I do work all of my work hours and the spa treatments are in my own lunchtime of course.

OP posts:
Purpleyogamat · 15/10/2023 15:24

What the hell is going on in your home that means you 'work much better from the spa'? I can't think of anywhere less distracting to try and work from than a busy spa.

And you say that the booths are private so no issues with privacy or disturbance, but there clearly is if your manager saw someone wandering around in their dressing gown.

If I was your manager, I'd veto this completely. Surely you don't save so much time commuting that it allows you to pursue your hobbies and activities during the working day AND have a full body massage twice a week during your lunch hour?

AgaMM · 15/10/2023 15:26

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:24

One small victory was that I mentioned the incident to the club manager and I've noticed a new sign in the spa saying robes are not permitted in the cafe area.
Just to reiterate that I do work all of my work hours and the spa treatments are in my own lunchtime of course.

Ok, this is where you went too far with your story.

ActDottie · 15/10/2023 15:27

You’re taking the piss. I would not be allowed to work from home at a spa! To say it’s just discriminatory is just insulting to those who actually face discrimination at work.

Blough · 15/10/2023 15:27

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:24

One small victory was that I mentioned the incident to the club manager and I've noticed a new sign in the spa saying robes are not permitted in the cafe area.
Just to reiterate that I do work all of my work hours and the spa treatments are in my own lunchtime of course.

How discriminatory 😄

Original poster
CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:27

The hour commute is saved morning and evening. I do 30 mins of work before my official start time so can take the 1hr 30 lunch.

OP posts:
ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 15/10/2023 15:28

CesareBorgia · 15/10/2023 14:20

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

Totally

HakunaMatiÅ‚da · 15/10/2023 15:28

So if the glass window of the booth meant your manager could see someone in a robe then what would stop the reverse - a member of the public seeing your screen?

ErrolTheDragon · 15/10/2023 15:28

I'm curious...would people object so much if the OP was in the habit of getting her hair done in her lunch break and then working from a cafe afterwards instead of returning home? (Assuming her data security and nature of work calls doesn't preclude anything like that. Some peoples work isn't sensitive. )

Ssme92 · 15/10/2023 15:29

@CheesesandWines
Did the club put up a "no video calls on our premises where people could unknowingly be filmed in their robes" sign yet? Or a "no video work calls on our premises that is supposed to be a place of relaxation and tranquility" sign yet? 😂

Redwinestillfine · 15/10/2023 15:29

I would imagine there would be massive issues with data integrity/ privacy etc op plus increased risk of theft. I don't know what your job is but my workplace has very strict rules around working in public ( which this absolutely is booth or no booth!).

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