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I've worked remote for a long time. It's very common to see people working from their home bedrooms. First-time remote workers will often overthink their offic

I've worked remote for a long time. It's very common to see people working from their home bedrooms. First-time remote workers will often overthink their office, but seasoned remote workers don't really care. It's worth taking a minute to tidy up the room in your background, but nobody is going to be judging you for not having a dedicated home office. > I'm also a manager. My workspace needs for desk layout, equipment, and quiet are minimal compared to individual contributors At least in software, the space needs for everyone are fairly minimal. There are some creative solutions for monitor arms that can reduce the not-in-use footprint of a desk even further.

jrochkind1 4y ago
Oh, I wouldn't think anyone would judge me, especially these days (plus there's blurred backgrounds etc). But a separate room I use for work helps me keep work separate from personal life when working from home. If I didn't have/couldn't afford that, I'd at least have a separate desk I use only for work. If not that either... it would be harder for me.
- swader999 4y ago
  They'll judge you poorly for spotty or slow internet on calls more than the background of your home office.
  - ghaff 4y ago
    >They'll judge you poorly for spotty or slow internet on calls Of course, realize that there's a good chance there's nothing they can do about that.
    - swader999 4y ago
      Trying different providers and even different routers helped me. Wi-Fi is less reliable generally.
      - ghaff 4y ago
        Many of us don't have a choice of different providers. And while I agree that WiFi in particular may not be as good as a wired connection, many people also don't have an Ethernet jack near where they work at home. (I do personally next to where I take my calls.)
        jrochkind1 4y ago
        I've actually had good luck with an "ethernet over power" device in my WFH setup. eg https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link/dp/B084CZMYNM/ref=asc_df_B084CZMYNM/ https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-T... but in general, yes, I agree, I have had problems with network connectivity in my WFH setup that are very difficult to do something about, and which are very frustrating to all involved, it is a problem.
        ghaff 4y ago
        I've extended WiFi with a power line adapter. It works but I had to try a few plug combinations for it to work. I know with X10 (yes, long time ago), you could have issues spanning your electrical box from (maybe?) one side to the other.
        jrochkind1 4y ago
        The instructions that came with the one I got say that it should be on the same circuit or whatever. I am pretty sure mine is not. It works well anyway. Which surprised me, I honestly didn't have high hopes for it, but it has made my zoom calls more reliable vs wifi in my office location.
      - lotsofpulp 4y ago
        For most US residences, there is at most 1 wired broadband provider to the house (coaxial cable), and they provide an unspecified anemic upload bandwidth.
chasd00 4y ago
Also, most video chat apps have filters where you can make your background look like a couple of different options. A standard, clean, organized home office being one.
- biomcgary 4y ago
  Although filters have gotten better (more precise, faster responding to movement), I still don't like them for cutting off hands or things I hold up for the camera to see. So, I hang a curtain behind me, since I don't have a wall.
  - xur17 4y ago
    Yeah, I tend to agree. And tbh I kind of like the glimpse into a person's life that a non-filtered background gives (in much the same way that idle chit chat helps me "connect" with a coworker).
  - SOLAR_FIELDS 4y ago
    This is actually due to the camera having a difficulty distinguishing whether your hand belongs to you or not. One thing you can do if you still want a fake background is to get one of the white photo background sheets that professional photographers use and put it behind you. It makes it a lot easier for the camera to tell what’s you and what isn’t and also really helps to prevent the bleeding effect that happens around where your face meets the background.

jrochkind1 4y ago

Oh, I wouldn't think anyone would judge me, especially these days (plus there's blurred backgrounds etc). But a separate room I use for work helps me keep work separate from personal life when working from home. If I didn't have/couldn't afford that, I'd at least have a separate desk I use only for work. If not that either... it would be harder for me.

swader999 4y ago
They'll judge you poorly for spotty or slow internet on calls more than the background of your home office.
- ghaff 4y ago
  >They'll judge you poorly for spotty or slow internet on calls Of course, realize that there's a good chance there's nothing they can do about that.
  - swader999 4y ago
    Trying different providers and even different routers helped me. Wi-Fi is less reliable generally.
    - ghaff 4y ago
      Many of us don't have a choice of different providers. And while I agree that WiFi in particular may not be as good as a wired connection, many people also don't have an Ethernet jack near where they work at home. (I do personally next to where I take my calls.)
      - jrochkind1 4y ago
        I've actually had good luck with an "ethernet over power" device in my WFH setup. eg https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link/dp/B084CZMYNM/ref=asc_df_B084CZMYNM/ https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-T... but in general, yes, I agree, I have had problems with network connectivity in my WFH setup that are very difficult to do something about, and which are very frustrating to all involved, it is a problem.
        ghaff 4y ago
        I've extended WiFi with a power line adapter. It works but I had to try a few plug combinations for it to work. I know with X10 (yes, long time ago), you could have issues spanning your electrical box from (maybe?) one side to the other.
        jrochkind1 4y ago
        The instructions that came with the one I got say that it should be on the same circuit or whatever. I am pretty sure mine is not. It works well anyway. Which surprised me, I honestly didn't have high hopes for it, but it has made my zoom calls more reliable vs wifi in my office location.
    - lotsofpulp 4y ago
      For most US residences, there is at most 1 wired broadband provider to the house (coaxial cable), and they provide an unspecified anemic upload bandwidth.

chasd00 4y ago

Also, most video chat apps have filters where you can make your background look like a couple of different options. A standard, clean, organized home office being one.

biomcgary 4y ago
Although filters have gotten better (more precise, faster responding to movement), I still don't like them for cutting off hands or things I hold up for the camera to see. So, I hang a curtain behind me, since I don't have a wall.
- xur17 4y ago
  Yeah, I tend to agree. And tbh I kind of like the glimpse into a person's life that a non-filtered background gives (in much the same way that idle chit chat helps me "connect" with a coworker).
- SOLAR_FIELDS 4y ago
  This is actually due to the camera having a difficulty distinguishing whether your hand belongs to you or not. One thing you can do if you still want a fake background is to get one of the white photo background sheets that professional photographers use and put it behind you. It makes it a lot easier for the camera to tell what’s you and what isn’t and also really helps to prevent the bleeding effect that happens around where your face meets the background.