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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:
WhateverMate · 15/10/2023 15:29

AgaMM · 15/10/2023 15:26

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

Show quote history

Oh it was waaaaaayy before that Grin

Beckafett · 15/10/2023 15:30

Ssme92 · 15/10/2023 14:58

I'd be pissed off if I was the made up spa user spotted walking around in a robe on a work video call!

This was my first thought!

Ssme92 · 15/10/2023 15:30

@ErrolTheDragon I have issue with people working in public places like cafes if they have to be on video calls to be honest. If they are just typing or researching I don't really care.

WavyLines11 · 15/10/2023 15:31

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.

Too much op..... too much

Jethia · 15/10/2023 15:31

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.

But there is a privacy issue, they're not private as someone walked past in a robe

user1846385927482658 · 15/10/2023 15:31

Can't believe you haven't posted a diagram yet.

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 15/10/2023 15:31

😂

excelledyourself · 15/10/2023 15:31

Nothing would ruin a massage for me more than knowing I had to log on and get back to work after it.

Original poster
CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:32

So do people fundamentally disagree with working anywhere from home / office. Lots of people (including a few team members) work at wewoek - is this a security threat also as in a public space?

OP posts:
Purpleyogamat · 15/10/2023 15:32

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.

One small victory? Over who?

You're so adamant that this establishment should double as your office that you think it's perfectly reasonable that they should change THEIR regulations to suit YOU and to stop you from getting in the crap with your manager?

Gwenhwyfar · 15/10/2023 15:32

Where I work they claim they need to know where we are all the time for insurance reasons so we can work elsewhere, but it's only worth it if it's a long-term thing like always working at a relative's place.
I disagree with my employer because they have many times put on FORCED wfh, in Covid and at other times so I think if they're taking our contracted place of work away from us they can't dictate where we are.

Also when I first started teleworking I didn't have internet at home so had to go to cafes to use wifi.

Blough · 15/10/2023 15:33

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. )

She was in a cafe, though.
The ridiculous part is bleating discrimination and not getting a massage in the afternoon would affect her health. She’s refusing to explain how it’s discriminatory. Just makes a mockery of actual discrimination.

Badgerandfox227 · 15/10/2023 15:33

My employer wouldn’t mind this and would actually promote this kind of thing on wellbeing grounds. The only problem might be WiFi usage in public place. There isn’t enough space in our company offices for people to go back to the office, plus our company treats us like adults, so if the works done, it’s done.

WhateverMate · 15/10/2023 15:33

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:32

So do people fundamentally disagree with working anywhere from home / office. Lots of people (including a few team members) work at wewoek - is this a security threat also as in a public space?

It can be a security threat.

Although at least in a spa they won't recognise you with the cucumber over your eyes.

Gwenhwyfar · 15/10/2023 15:34

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:32

So do people fundamentally disagree with working anywhere from home / office. Lots of people (including a few team members) work at wewoek - is this a security threat also as in a public space?

No because obviously when people go to external meetings they sometimes have to use their laptops either during the meeting eg to show a presentation or before and after if they're not coming straight back to the office. Not to mention all the people who have annoying work calls on public transport.

Original poster
CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:35

I'm not on public wifi

OP posts:
IcedBananas · 15/10/2023 15:36

I think having people walking in robes in the background is not acceptable. You h r a responsibility to ensure that everyone in shot consents to being filmed and also that they are dressed.

AnneValentine · 15/10/2023 15:37

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.

This!!!

assignedferretatbirth · 15/10/2023 15:37

This thread is such bullshit 😂

PrinnyPree · 15/10/2023 15:37

Although there is obviously a massive hint of privilege here that will definitely wind your colleagues up who have not been extended the same WFH contract. My personal opinion is as long as the work's done and you can still communicate and work effectively as a team you should be able to work whereever the hell you like... However I wouldn't be complaining to HR about discrimination. 😅

WaitingfortheTardis · 15/10/2023 15:37

Whether or not this story is true I think work from home means working offsite, at an appropriate location for concentration and privacy, whether or not this is in fact at your own home.

AnneValentine · 15/10/2023 15:38

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 15:35

I'm not on public wifi

how are you not?

Rec0veringAcademic · 15/10/2023 15:38

Yeah 'kay, right. Next.

ReadyForPumpkins · 15/10/2023 15:40

I’m sorry I work from home and that means my office in my house. I have dedicated space in my own study for it. My kids are older and they know never to ask for me when I have my doors closed too.

I will never attempt to work in a spa

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/10/2023 15:40

You've been winging it, and you know it.
You didn't think to change/blur your background
Accept that you've been rumbled, a d accept that WF"Home" implies some sort of private and pseudo professional environment.