If you WFH, do you sit outside in the summer?

[Peckhaminn]

Just curious, I love being outdoors when it's warm. I've recently taken a role where I WFH permanently and wondered if anyone else sit in the sun whilst they work? Even if they have to do teams meeting etc? Or do you go inside for them.

My neighbour spent a lot of time in the garden on Teams calls last summer. I did not appreciate it and I doubt anyone else in the road did either.

Do they have an exceptionally loud voice? We use headsets for calls and my next door neighbours wouldn't be able to hear me (we don't have large gardens BTW)

I work in a confidential role so couldn’t do it and also agree with PP who said it’s bloody annoying for neighbours when taking calls.

Reading papers, yes.

Like others, I'd love to but the screen issue is a big one in sunlight, plus I wouldn't be allowed to do most of my Teams calls if there was a risk of being overheard.

I need two screens to do my work so too much of a pain to set up outside. Also our internet is a bit too spotty outside.

If it’s too hot to work inside, then sometimes the shady bit of the garden is doable depending on the tasks. Otherwise I do for team catch up calls where there are no slides. Sit with my sunglasses on, and happy to have my camera on.

I’ve never found a good way to get the screen shaded enough to see it properly.

Not really as I can't see the screen on the laptop but I sit near open doors

I used to but for some reason I sit down and it’s like a bad version of Snow White. I end up with animals and bugs seeking me out
But not nice ones to help me clean or keep me company, nope. It’s wasps and a stray cat who wanted to always swipe at my legs, the worst though had to be the woodlouse spider (don’t google that if you have a phobia) I ended up in minor injuries as the bite was SO painful and got infected .

No. I use two screens and my calls would be overheard.
A neighbour sits outside with her laptop though.

I have done but only for short periods as I'm more comfortable inside

I used to WFH - in the olden days - before it was popular (I retired 8yrs ago!) and yes, in the summer, I worked on the terrace - but did need a huge umbrella up pretty permanently so that I could see the laptop screen. Most of our meetings were voice, not video, in those days, and I wore a head mic so not an issue.

I would love to! But as others have said how on earth do you see the screen?

Be careful if your job involves anything confidential.

Put it this way, if the next door neighbour recorded your voice on your meeting over the fence or through the hedge or whatever and put it on the internet, would your company, clients or any confidential information be identified?

If so you are almost certainly at risk of being fired.

I sit in the conservatory with the doors open. It's heavenly.

I would listen to a meeting/briefing on headphones but wouldn't attend a meeting where I was speaking due to confidentiality and I agree it is disruptive for neighbours.

I used to work in the summerhouse at my old place which was a nice change.

Nope. All the bugs in the world like to eat me (I can get bitten in the garden in mid winter in long sleeves just by being there) and if it’s warm enough then I’d overheat beyond a working temperature fairly quickly.

I do as much as possible. When we had some electrical work done last year I even got an outdoor socket fitted in the back garden to help with laptop charging (and mowing the lawn).

I have an IKEA storage box on its side that shades my screen if needed. I use my AirPods for calls and as I work in sustainability I don’t think there is much commercially confidential with my calls about embodied carbon. The dog lies with me in the sun and it’s a lovely way to spend the day.

No, I have three screens, and when I've tried for a team call on just my laptop I can't bloody see anything even in the shade.

I used to love when we had outside classes at school in the summer but that was paper and pen.

A good pair of noise cancelling headphones and it’s possible to dial into meetings where you mainly listen and you don’t have to present or talk a lot. Or for informal team catch ups. Otherwise no, I don’t sit outside as i hate working solely off my laptop screen and I miss my big monitor. But I do sit by my patio doors and have them open all day in warm weather.

Yeah I do, I sit in the shade and I can see the laptop screen.

As for annoying the neighbours whilst on calls, people talk in their gardens all the time. How is this any different?

No. That would be one of my worst working nightmares having to be outside on a sunny day.

someone chatting in the next garden during the day is generally low level back and forth. Someone doing a lengthy presentation on the next three months sales strategy is bad enough when you’re in the room/on the call yourself, it’s very bad manners if you’re inflicting it on your neighbours. It’s as bad as being in the phone on the bus or train, actually worse as you know at some point either you or they will get off the bus, but there’s no escape from your neighbour.

plus, as pp have said, confidentiality issues are a factor for many peoples jobs.

I try this every year and every year I fail. Between the glare from sun, dodgy Wi-Fi and builders singing it's hard to concentrate!

I have to confess my parents beach hut gets a fair amount of use while they look after DD. I dont have teams calls or need internet most of the time so it works fine.

My WiFi doesn't reach that far!

I did last year when we had some really hot days. DH set up a gazebo and I worked from there. It was lovely....fresh air, birds singing and the dog was delighted to be out there with me.