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I was setting a bad precedent for my sons when they would try to talk to me and I'd say "I'm working. not right now." Then it becomes ambiguous whether they can

I was setting a bad precedent for my sons when they would try to talk to me and I'd say "I'm working. not right now." Then it becomes ambiguous whether they can talk to me or not. Not good for kids IMO. No doors? Seems like there are many ways you could make the signal less ambiguous.

taneq 6y ago
Yeah, this is a setup issue, not a work-from-home issue. If possible a separate office with closable door is ideal, then just be really strict that when your office door is closed, you're at work and not to be disturbed. It took me a few months to train my family to respect this but they're pretty good about it now.
- deathanatos 6y ago
  …income to real estate / rental prices in many of the metropolitan areas mean many of us do not have a separate room.
jlokier 6y ago
Doors - that would imply a room. So many people are working at a kitchen table right now or similar. I.e. in a communal area, due to lack of spare rooms to make into an office. Imagine two adults trying to work at a kitchen/dining room table all day with children around.
- bart_spoon 6y ago
  Well in that case the problem isn't "working from home", its "working from this particular home which isn't setup in any way for success". Its not reasonable to expect everyone to have a living situation setup to accommodate working from home given the way the current situation was thrust upon them, but its just an unreasonable to judge the efficacy of working from home based on those same people's experiences. Its equivalent to removing all the desks and furniture from an office and then basing your assessment on the ensuing disaster.
  - ksk 6y ago
    As you alluded to, if you only judge something in its most optimal setting, then of course that thing seems very workable and successful. There are very few objective truths when it comes to WFH policies; there are only compromises that people are willing to make/accept. People always seem to make it about one-size-fits-all X is Good Y is Bad.

taneq 6y ago

Yeah, this is a setup issue, not a work-from-home issue. If possible a separate office with closable door is ideal, then just be really strict that when your office door is closed, you're at work and not to be disturbed. It took me a few months to train my family to respect this but they're pretty good about it now.

deathanatos 6y ago
…income to real estate / rental prices in many of the metropolitan areas mean many of us do not have a separate room.

jlokier 6y ago

Doors - that would imply a room. So many people are working at a kitchen table right now or similar. I.e. in a communal area, due to lack of spare rooms to make into an office. Imagine two adults trying to work at a kitchen/dining room table all day with children around.

bart_spoon 6y ago
Well in that case the problem isn't "working from home", its "working from this particular home which isn't setup in any way for success". Its not reasonable to expect everyone to have a living situation setup to accommodate working from home given the way the current situation was thrust upon them, but its just an unreasonable to judge the efficacy of working from home based on those same people's experiences. Its equivalent to removing all the desks and furniture from an office and then basing your assessment on the ensuing disaster.
- ksk 6y ago
  As you alluded to, if you only judge something in its most optimal setting, then of course that thing seems very workable and successful. There are very few objective truths when it comes to WFH policies; there are only compromises that people are willing to make/accept. People always seem to make it about one-size-fits-all X is Good Y is Bad.