Since the pandemic started back in March 2020, the concept of working from home has been the new normal. When the rules were relaxed, everyone from the British workforce to university students flocked cafes to get some human contact.
While things have nearly returned to normal, working in a cafe is still something enjoyed by many young people.
However, there is a certain etiquette to respect when it comes to working in public spaces. Here are some of the do’s and dont’s.
Choose carefully
Make sure you pick a place where workers are accepted. It would be annoying for you to sit down and be told to pack up because they don’t want workers. Instead look to see if there are other people working. Go in, ask someone if they are happy for you to work there, use the Wi-Fi and their outlets. If they say yes, then go! If not, move along to the next one.
Don’t be a table-hogger
Cafés are like anywhere, they need to turn a profit. If you use their free Wi-Fi and sit there all day without ordering food, that’s not good! The least you can do is order a coffee during the day. If you sit at the table all day without ordering anything, you are keeping paying customers from using that table. Order food, order coffee. It’s an excuse to eat out.
Be observant
If you see that a queue starts to build up and that the demand for tables increases, it might be time to pack up and go. If you have been there for a couple of hours, leave the table to someone else. You can always come back another day.
Always wear headphones
If you need to carry out anything that involves sound, you must wear headphones. You are not at home! You are in a public space. Therefore you must be polite to the people around you. That goes for working in a cafe or in a communal working space.
Tone it down
As well as wearing headphones, you must tone it down if you are going to take a phone call. Not everyone wants to hear your conversation. Also if you take a work related phone call in a cafe or public working space, think whether you’ll be discussing sensitive information. People are likely to hear you!
On that thought: don’t take zoom meetings, especially if you are leading the meeting. If the cafe is quiet and everyone is focused, you’ll attract attention to yourself. Some people might not like the disruption.
Don’t be rude
While it might seem obvious: don’t be rude. Whether it’s to the people who work at the cafe or those who’ve brought their work into the cafe. Get a sense of the room when you first walk in. Be considerate and use common sense when working in public spaces.
Working in public spaces like cafes or communal working places can be a great way to enjoy some human contact and get out of the house. However, respect others around you. Don’t make everyone mad at you by being insensitive and then everyone wins.