So MarketingProfs is a virtual company, which means that the 25 or so of us on staff are scattered throughout the country, working out of our respective homes. In a practical sense, this means we can shuffle around in our slippers at the “office.” But the downside is that our work lives are solitary and can feel a wee bit lonely, and we don’t get a lot of time together as a team.
But to that last point– well, is that such a bad thing?
From what I hear from those who actually work in offices, quarters can get a little cramped. Your co-workers leave the kitchen a mess, or they talk too loudly on the phone, or whatever.
I have no idea what it would be like to work side-by-side with my colleagues here at MarketingProfs. But I have to believe it might be better than the grievances I’ve read about lately, of the 10 most annoying things co-workers do:
1. Eating food that belongs to someone else. Or, chowing down on food others bring in to share, but never bringing the donuts yourself.
2. Talking too loud on the phone, especially about non-work stuff. Details of a doctor’s appointment, chat with your spouse– Take it outside.
3. Eating smelly food. I have two words for this one: Burnt popcorn. Wait: here’s two more: Fast food.
4. “Borrowing” supplies and never returning them. This leads to controlling behavior, like marking things like tape dispensers and staplers with name-tags, as if they are going to sleep-away camp.
5. Playing a radio loud enough for others to hear. Especially: Playing it *just* loud enough, so it presents as a persistent, tinny sound, like a mosquito loitering near your ear.
6. Not keeping cell phones on vibrate, particularly when it’s “The Mexican Hat Dance” rendered in ring tone.
7. Using the speakerphone gratuitously.
8. Shouting conversation over cubicles.
9. Playing with iPhones or Blackberrys during meetings.
10. Not taking a hint. Yes, my weekend was fine, thanks, and we’ve now covered every inch of yours, too. Now go back to your own desk and get work done, okay?
Adapted from Mental Floss and Forbes.
What else would you add?
I have done both and can say without a doubt doing it all from a home office is best. Yes, you can’t “bond” as well with co-workers, but you don’t get into tiffs with them either (or you’re not in smacking distance). Just about everything we do can be done virtually now. But with that siad, some meetings are best in person, an dit is good to get in some “face-time” as well. It just doesn’t need to be everyday.
The worst: wearing a lot of perfume and/or cologne. Stinky!
But Ann, your list covers the misdemeanors — mere annoyances. What about the real felons?
Brown-noses who suck up to the boss.
Credit-stealers who appear at every meeting — then disappear when there’s real work to be done.
Back-stabbers and saboteurs who undermine your work.
Crafty manipulators more skilled at office politics than anything else.
And just plain old incompetent idiots who waste time and energy.
Very loud sighing (which, of course, I’ve likely been guilty of myself on occasion!)
Don’t forget the boundary problem along with working too much. Both of these can be found at home or in the office. You can do something about boundaries but it’s more difficult to change a workaholic.
To me, the only benefit of working at home is you can just roll out of bed and be working. Other than that, for me at least, I prefer working in an environment with other people.
Many of the negatives you listed are on target. I’d add one more — one of my neighbors, who edits an online beauty magazine, burns scented candles in her office, The smell permeates the entire place and has caused me to have sneezing fits and teary eyes. I finally had to ask her not to burn her candles.
Bit I’ve tried working at home and I am not disciplined enough to resist all the distractions — the TV, walking the dog, the refrigerator, any project in the house that needs to be done. At home, I’m a terrible procrastinator. So when I come to the office, it’s for work, not procrastination.
As a solo practitioner, I had to build my own collegial workspace. So I rented space with several offices and I sublet the other offices to other people in p.r., advertising and graphics. (A short commercial here: I have two private offices available now, both with windows. One seats one, the other can handle 2 or even 3 people. Contact me if you want more info. I’m at 44th and 3rd in midtown Manhattan, a block from Grand Central. Call me at 212 573-6000 or email at david@reichcommunications.com)
Ann, send me a bill for the ad. (Not)
Well, virtual or not the Marketing Profs’ articles, blog, forum, and online seminars are all outstanding!
You have a great team. Keep up the good work!
I agree with Neal 120%.
I live in the space that David describes–I mean live, because I’m at the office more than at home. I love it on East 44th Street.
At times we collaborate but more often than not, we conduct our own affairs. We accept packages for one another and are gracious to office mates’ guests. When the Golden Rule doesn’t work both ways–that gets me.
From days in a traditional office, a boss’s tantrums scared me. The hair on my neck prickles just remembering.
I’d never get a damned thing done if I worked in an office with you, Ann. We’d be in the breakroom too often, looking for coffee and snacks and making everyone within earshot laugh.
Love ya, but I gotta stick with my schnauzer here at Mission Control. ;]
sadf
You are absolutely right. That is why our office is different and looks like this:
http://www.grandperfumes.com/clean-funny-perfumejokes
Everyone is too happy…:)
@Yep Cologne/perfume.. yes!
@Jonathan True — I’m only talking about annoyances in a physical setting here, but all that other valid stuff you mention happens, too. thanks for that!
@shelley very true.. plus, you’d spend all day cooking in the break room.. and then NONE of us would ever get anything done….
Ann,
When I work at home I always find myself taking a very long nap or eating uncontrollably, or eating uncontrollably and then taking a long nap, or napping uncontrollably. Then I suffer from home office politics, whereby I blame myself for everything that went wrong, steal my own food, or tell the boss (me) that I’m just not up for the job.
@ted: Don’t you HATE that guy?!!
hi ann:
lol, this proves that office irritations are universal.
how about the person who sharpens their pencils every 10 minutes with an electric sharpener?
or the person who is obstensibly in your office to ask a question but is staring at your computer monitor and looking over the papers on your desk?
i have enjoyed working in office environments but working at home has its benefits too—my favorite? baking up a quick batch of muffins on a cold, rainy morning—heaven.
enjoyed your post.
What I live about working at home is making coffee on cold, rainy morning. That is heaven!
We are a a virtual company, too, spread out all over the place.
We are all very self-disciplined, so we can get things done.
Sometimes it would be nice to be able to meet up face to face, since email and phone can get confusing, and some of us gesticulate a lot. We’ve used Skype have our almost-face-to-face meetings. We do make sure to get out of the PJs and at least business casual for the video conference calls.
Another perk of working at home – it’s ALWAYS bring your dog to work day!
There is nothing better (as a creative person) than being able to stand up, walk over to my other creative people and sit down and start brainstorming over topics that just came to mind. I hate being at home and working alone, and having no one to turn to, excitedly, about a new project, idea, solution, etc.
Secondly, to you people who have problems with others at work — grow up. If you can’t work with people, means you can’t live with people, which isn’t good for the long run. Social interaction is kind of important these days, given the amount of time we spend online alone. People are forgetting how to properly communicate. Since when did ‘call you later’ become ‘text you later’ *shudders*
p.s. regardless of all this, i so wish i could work from home :OP
There are pros and cons to both set-ups. I love the creative energy one can tap into when working in a single environment. Ideas flow from one to another. On the other hand, there are well-meant colleagues who visit your office to shoot the breeze and keep you from doing your work. That’s annoying.
Working in a home office means that I spend TOO many hours attached to my computer. I have yet to practice balance. But, it also means that I don’t have to put on make up, dress up and drive somewhere unless I have a meeting. Plus, I can have lunch in the backyard, watch the news (on a TV outside), enjoy the flowers, or just listen to… peace.
Elaine, I can completely relate to the TOO many hours working thing. It can be difficult to get away from work when work is right at home!