My friend who also WFH wants us to work alongside one another

[Lorelai007]

I recently made a new friend with another mum who, like me, also works from home while she sends her DD to nursery. We've socialised a couple times, and I enjoy her company, but she's just asked me if I would be interested in working alongside one another on weekdays to create more of an office environment. I'm really not too keen on this idea, since I like coming back to my own home after dropping DS off at nursery, then I clean and do laundry while listening to a podcast, relax with a coffee on my balcony, then I stick my headphones on and do some work in between cooking and other household chores. Sometimes if I'm really tired I have an afternoon nap, or even a small glass of wine while reading my book before it's time to go and collect DS. I'm a bit of an introvert and during the week I like to be in my own space without interruption, it's how I recharge after spending all evening and morning and the weekend taking care of my active 3 year old son. I told my husband my reasons for not wanting to hang out with my friend on weekdays, and preferring to stay home alone, and he just laughed and jokingly said how I hate other people. This isn't true, I just can't function being in someone else's company for an entire day and then having to entertain my DS. I don't want to jeopardise my friendship, but I have no idea how to politely decline her suggestion. Also, we have completely different jobs and I need two monitors to work, plus my office is too small to accommodate the both of us.

Just say no. I’m sorry it doesn’t suit me. That’s easy.

Also, stop the solo daytime mid week drinking. Just my opinion but it seems like not a good idea.

You don’t need so many justifications!

It would be a no thank you from me too ( - takes away the benefit of WFH!)

YANBU. Just say no, for the reasons you said.

And I want your 'job'! i'd be a bit concerned by mid afternoon solo drinking though.

Maybe it is me, but I think that is a really weird thing for her to suggest, it would not work for me. I would just say that it wouldn’t work for you, or if you need to say something else, just say you are in meetings a lot, and they need to be private.

I don’t think this needs to be a big deal op. Just say thanks very much for the kind offer, but it wouldn’t work for you.

Wfh with someone else (either virtually or in person) is becoming a bit of a thing - think it’s called ‘body doubling’. It’s supposed to make you more efficient if there’s someone else in the room with you or something along those lines.

If she’s a normal person she won’t be offended, it needn’t harm your friendship as long as you say it nicely.

Also what job do you have where
you can do all that stuff while working from home because I want to apply 😆

It doesn’t really sound like you do much work?!

By the sounds of it you'd get a lot more actual work done with her proposal....

Do you work an hour a day?

Am I the only one who has the occasional afternoon tipple? I don't get drunk, or even tipsy. I just like to have a glass while reading my book....

Also, we have completely different jobs and I need two monitors to work, plus my office is too small to accommodate the both of us.

That's plenty reason enough, but you don't need to explain or justify why you don't want to do this.

In any case, if you wanted 'more of an office environment' presumably you'd get an office job. I wfh (since 1995jand definitely don't want an 'office environment'.

No way. DH and I WFH for the same organisation and we work as far away from each other as possible in our house.

What is your job?? I want it!

No, I wouldn’t drink before going to pick my DC up from school - especially alone 😬

I do this with my neighbour, it works for us, stops the cabin fever, we do it 2 days a week.

But you're overthinking it -just say no, she won't care, she'll just eventually ask someone else!

My job is pretty laid back. As long as I meet deadlines, my boss doesn't check in on me too often!

I don't think it's a weird request in itself- if I and a friend both have to do very focused extended writing for a few hours we sometimes sit in the same room as it keeps us head down and working for agreed chunks of time.
Your work doesn't sound as if focused extended periods of writing really feature though ;) I'm sure you'll get lots of other similarly snarky comments!

Obviously just say no thanks: it's not an issue!

In addition to the day time drinking, reading, coffees- surely its a potential breach of GDPR to be working in someone elses house and in earshot of a non work colleague? Unless you are planning to sit in separate rooms to take calls/dial into meetings- which defeats the whole point. Just say no.

My husband drives (or I take the bus if he's unavailable).

I'm assuming you work for yourself?

I work from home with DH. Both different companies, different sectors etc.

And whilst most of the time it's great to have someone to have a quick chat with, occasionally our diaries clash and it's a nightmare.

Ok, I want your job…
but regardless just say “sorry I need a very specific set up and my office is tiny”
if you like her just offer to meet for lunch every so often

Why is she proposing working at yours and not hers? And no, I don't think many people have an afternoon tipple while reading, in fact I've never known anyone to do so.

Mine is too, there's two or three zoom meetings a week but it's about getting the work done not presenteeism. However I do only work part time.

Why are you giving this so much thought? Seriously, it's no big deal, just a suggestion. I would just say "God no, I love my quiet space, I could never go back to working with other people. How about lunch some day?"

Don't make an issue out of it. She probably won't give it a second thought.

My work is pretty laid back too, I would not dream of drinking during the working day though!!