WFH Outside

[Anonymous]

I’m hybrid. Today was my WFH day. It is beautiful outside so I sat outside with my laptop. I’ve done this before with my old boss and he didn’t care. During a meeting, I was asked a question so I unmuted myself and answered and muted myself. While I was talking, you could hear a bird chirping. A few minutes ago, my new boss called me to tell me I should be inside during calls because I sounded unprofessional! WTH

[Anonymous]

Team Boss.

[Anonymous]

Stupid boss. I was on a work call yesterday and the office suite above me started loud banging. Like a wrench on a pipe. Noise happens.

The best you can do is use noise cancelling headphones.

Enjoy your outdoors office.

[Anonymous]

In 2017, despite being IN the office (on the 11th floor) and being on a headset by then boss berated me for being able to hear an ambulance go through Dupont Circle, while we were on a teams call.

I did not select your open office layout in The middle of the city absurd man. I quit months later.

Some people are effing nuts and all you can do is run far far away.

[Anonymous]

I think that's dumb but I've worked with plenty of people who would have felt the same as your boss. Part of my job involves conducting video interviews with a bunch of executives at various clients and I just assume that whoever I'm speaking to will be uptight about "professionalism" and I dress very formally during these interviews (even though I work exclusively from home and they know this) and even sometimes move my computer or change decor in my home office in order to keep my background as neutral and inoffensive as possible. It's annoying but it's better than having some exec distrust me because I have some kid's artwork taped to the wall behind me or I'm wearing a hoodie instead of more formal business attire.

A couple of my colleagues use those background blurring effects for this reason but I think those look weird so I just go for a blackish wall. Regarding sound I installed a few noise absorbing panels on the wall that connects to the house so that people can't hear my nanny with the kids or my spouse making himself lunch in the kitchen. I don't know if it works but so far so good.

I do sometimes wish I worked in an industry where this was less of an issue. The more corporate your industry the more weird people get about this stuff even though WFH is incredibly common these days and many of them are doing it too.

[Anonymous]

You should wear headphones outside, your neighbors don’t want to hear your work calls.

[Anonymous]

I mean, you could be inside with your window open and someone might hear a bird. It doesnt sound that unprofessional to me?

[Anonymous]

Your boss is right. And even if they're wrong, now you know your boss thinks it's unprofessional, so go inside during calls.

[Anonymous]

Team boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should wear headphones outside, your neighbors don’t want to hear your work calls.

+1 but also because they can muffle outside noises. For example, you can hear the treadmill while I’m walking during calls - I’ve asked my coworkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your boss is right. And even if they're wrong, now you know your boss thinks it's unprofessional, so go inside during calls.

+1


Are others at your office "in" the office taking the meeting or sitting outdoors on the patio, the sidewalk, or at a cafe? I think your boss wants WAH to be similar to in the office. Does your telework agreement specify that you have a home office that you will be working in? Regardless, as above, their rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you could be inside with your window open and someone might hear a bird. It doesnt sound that unprofessional to me?

I had the same thought. Boss needs to relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you could be inside with your window open and someone might hear a bird. It doesnt sound that unprofessional to me?

I would have just said I had a window open. But if boss feels strongly about it, just work outside when you're not in meetings.

[Anonymous]

Thanks DCUM for teaching me that birds in springtime are unprofessional and undermine someone’s competency.

[Anonymous]

SMH! You're going to get us all sent back to the office OP. Keep it professional!!!!