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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:
frustratedinlaw · 15/10/2023 16:19

I have colleagues that regularly work from their gym/spa. I have no issue with it.

GreekGod · 15/10/2023 16:21

Is this a joke ? This must be a joke. How can you work with people walking around in their robes behind you and after a massage ? I don't get it. Where's the professionalism ?

theprincessthepea · 15/10/2023 16:21

I think your employer is being unreasonable (discrimination is far worse!!). It seems like it’s coming from a place where they need to make work fair for everyone (and maybe even themselves). If you are doing your work I don’t think it’s an issue - why don’t you just agree to go to a coworking place to say that you need a change of environment?

Also plan calls so that your environment isn’t in a spa - that is the least you can do. Going to a spa during your break is similar to employees that gym in my eyes. Also instead of asking to work from a “spa” why don’t you just say it’s a coworking space (if there is genuinely a space that you can work).

As a business owner you can pretty much work from anywhere - or when you are more senior. I realised managers get a little funny when you don’t “follow the unspoken rules”. It seems like an unspoken rule is to not work from a spa.

I dont think it’s a strong case but try and meet in the middle or go to the so in the evening.

Megifer · 15/10/2023 16:23

What does your contract say - specifically- about the work location?

"Remote" - fine although is a bit strange to work from a spa and not see how this might piss others off

"Home" or "permanent location" or similar - yea you shouldn't be working from a spa.

Can't believe I answered this seriously tho 🤣🤣

Someoneonlyyouknow · 15/10/2023 16:24

Oh I have a good idea! Organise a team meeting at the spa so your manager and colleagues can all be reassured that it is a perfectly secure place for you to work and be productive. (Remind them that robes aren't allowed in the cafe though, apparently regular users have complained)

Buffypaws · 15/10/2023 16:25

I think you’re fine. I would do this. I’ve worked from the pub, friends’ houses (including abroad), restaurants, trains, the hospital… if you are hot spotting from your phone and ensuring privacy etc then I can’t really see why there would be an issue. It sounds like people including your manager think that you are too close to having a good time.

Spirallingdownwards · 15/10/2023 16:28

I agree. Working remotely surely means working from anywhere. As long as work is getting done and confidentially isn't compromised I can't see any issue

ilovesooty · 15/10/2023 16:29

Someoneonlyyouknow · 15/10/2023 16:24

Oh I have a good idea! Organise a team meeting at the spa so your manager and colleagues can all be reassured that it is a perfectly secure place for you to work and be productive. (Remind them that robes aren't allowed in the cafe though, apparently regular users have complained)

What a shame. They could all have kitted themselves out in robes with the company logo 😂

Neriah · 15/10/2023 16:30

chipsandpeas · 15/10/2023 14:19

i smell a reverse

Not what I was smelling.

kopitiamgal · 15/10/2023 16:30

'Discrimination' is dramatic working from the spa isn't a protected characteristic but she isn't being U for not wanting people in the background.
Tell her it won't happen again... avoid the spa for a few weeks then start using it again. And make sure you have a virtual background when your camera's on!

Iloveshoes123 · 15/10/2023 16:31

You are really taking the piss op and it's people like you that put employers off letting people work from home. You managed to secure your 5 days at home which presumably other people in the office have to go in yet you think it's acceptable to work from a spa 2 afternoons a week. Even if it doesn't impact your work (which I don't believe) it's not acceptable in the same way wearing a crop top and shorts to the office is unacceptable - there are certain responsibilities when you are at a certain level and perception matters.
When you are permitted to work from home that presumably means your home not where ever you decide to set-up.
Also, in our company you cannot run your work laptop from a phone hotspot as it isn't secure, similar to public wifi.

Catopia · 15/10/2023 16:33

I think it depends a little what you do. Clearly if there are any confidentiality issues then it's probably a huge issue being on public wifi and in a public place full stop.

However, in my view taking work calls at the gym/spa during working hours is completely unacceptable and disrespectful both to the colleague or client calling you who is actually trying to get proper work done, and to the other people trying to use the gym/spa.

PandaPacer · 15/10/2023 16:33

You have got yourself caught out now, so your manager will be on high alert. The wise person would revert to wfh, and save your spa treatments for outside working hours!

Yep, if you were in one of my teams I would have clocked this piss taking and would be watching you, your presence, and your deliverables very, very carefully from now on. My Eye of Mordor is not what you want on you. You will possibly get away with it for now but I would also be unlikely to approve any variations to working life also as you have shown you take the piss.

I also wonder what happens if meetings are put in your calendar over that 1.5 hours you are getting a massage? Do you just reject them?

What happens to your laptop when you go to the loo? Is it secure?

tachetastic · 15/10/2023 16:36

I regularly work from home, and occasionally from the car, a cafe or even the odd pub if that fits with something else I need to do that day. But I try to avoid calls and if I have to take them then I always do it subtly and keep my camera turned off.

I think regular working from a spa where there are people walking about in robes is pushing it. If your manager was okay with it, then fine, but I see their concern that people working from the office may imagine that you're having a pedicure off camera. It doesn't look good and I don't understand how you don't see that.

letspopthekettleon · 15/10/2023 16:36

BelBabe · 15/10/2023 14:26

The more I think about this the more outrageous it is.

Are the spa happy for you to video call there? I would be mortified if I was caught in the background of a virtual meeting in a dressing gown

Haha yes, this!

Lordofmyflies · 15/10/2023 16:38

I think you're missing a trick OP. Take your laptop to your lunchtime massage twice a week, put an apple on your space bar and knock off 1.5 hours early.

LuckySantangelo35 · 15/10/2023 16:39

Purpleyogamat · 15/10/2023 15:32

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?

Show quote history

I was thinking this .

You’re taking the piss OP @CheesesandWines

letspopthekettleon · 15/10/2023 16:39

You're spoiling the attitudes to WFH for the rest of us. Some of us with small children wouldn't be able to go back to office life but are now able to go back to our careers due to the flexibility of WFH. You're taking the piss completely.

LuckySantangelo35 · 15/10/2023 16:41

@CheesesandWines

also that woman in a robe that you caught on camera …that’s you filming her and sharing her image without her consent. Which is against the law.

think you might need to start working some place private - home or the office.

Soz!

Maireas · 15/10/2023 16:41

I think if you're in the sauna and your specs get steamed up, it could cause a problem if you accidentally ship 10pks of incontinence pants to Jean in Warwick instead of John in Watford, but otherwise getting a wax, a body massage or colonic irrigation shouldn't really impact your work. The TUC would back you all the way.

MyDogSmellsTerrible · 15/10/2023 16:42

I've been feeling really poorly all day and this has really cheered me up!!

Thanks OP - I can only assume you're a civil servant working for HMRC or something similar?

You are seriously taking the piss and yes, I'm very very jealous 😂😂

CagneyAndLazy · 15/10/2023 16:42

Discriminated against for not being allowed to work from a Spa?!

I'm dying 😂😂😂

Maireas · 15/10/2023 16:43

Yes, civil servant, I'm guessing.

NatashaDancing · 15/10/2023 16:43

tachetastic · 15/10/2023 16:36

I regularly work from home, and occasionally from the car, a cafe or even the odd pub if that fits with something else I need to do that day. But I try to avoid calls and if I have to take them then I always do it subtly and keep my camera turned off.

I think regular working from a spa where there are people walking about in robes is pushing it. If your manager was okay with it, then fine, but I see their concern that people working from the office may imagine that you're having a pedicure off camera. It doesn't look good and I don't understand how you don't see that.

It's not "fine" for the OP's employers, the management of the spa or the customers of the spa.

If OP were my employee she'd be back in the office permanently.

Mikimoto · 15/10/2023 16:44

JamieFrasersBitOnTheSide · 15/10/2023 14:21

I smell bullshit. 😂

Show quote history

I smell lemongrass!

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