Working from home and zoom meetings

[nakkers]

Ankle biters are always welcomed with ooohhhssss and aaahhhsss on conference calls. Even pets such as cats and dogs.

When it’s off camera and they believe they are muted when it’s not and the kid is crying is annoying. Or the dog barks for the post or Amazon delivery etc.

I’ve worked from home and taken calls everywhere and had to carefully manage unwanted ambient noise. Parked along the highway, golf course, airports, PA announcements at retail stores/airports etc.

Having the wife at home does present it’s challenges when both of us have calls. Who gets the office? We have 2 teenagers at home but they don’t appear until noon.


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[油井緋色]

Another side effect of WFH.

On the negative side, if you have small children you may have to shun them at certain times. I don't know if this is good or bad or situation dependent. If little missy walks in on a meeting where the contractors are discussing the decor of a strip club renovation job they have.......

If your house has a no swearing rule or other restriction and someone mouths off.

On the other hand the younger set actually gets to see what their parents do. In the traditional office job mom and dad disappear somewhere in the morning and return 8-10 hours later with money. There is a gap in the connect the dots. It isn't like a traditional farm where junior sees dad driving the tractor etc.

I've lived with a Korean family whose father looked like he wanted to off himself every time I see him. They had 3 kids, 2 years apart each, so we got to hear the crying for 6 years as if we were the parents. I dealt with it civilly (aka. stfu don't say anything cause the parents are suffering too), but a part of me thinks "why the **** would you inconvenience the whole floor else by having multiple children in a condo."

I've got an incompetent manager whose kid is always screaming in the background during work meetings. Of course, nobody bats an eye to this stuff cause it's "cute." It makes my ears bleed lol

 

[油井緋色]

Responding to the very first post, because I'm gonna say that half the people here don't know what you're actually talking about.

This isn't Andy's poster of Rita Hayworth we're talking about. You are bringing pornography into the workplace. If you were my employee doing this, you would get kicked out of the meeting with a warning. Do it again and you'd be fired. I would consider my hands tied on the matter, because if I let a #3 happen that would be solid grounds for a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Edit: And relying on the virtual backdrop is an extremely bad idea. You have an IT background, so you should know why

Out of curiosity, how is this a 'sexual harassment' issue? I'm legit curious for how/why this would work (even though I know it would, I just don't understand the rationality or logistics behind it.) Also, how is it porn if the drawings are fully clothed? They just have their tongues sticking out and some white liquid covering. There's no penises or penetration. It's art! (half sarcasm, half serious here.)

....well, maybe one has a see-through t-shirt, but hey, if men can be topless and show nipples, why can't women? Equal rights am I right? Again, just to emphasis, I totally know this would probably result in a sexual harassment lawsuit or whatever, but I can't figure out why from a rational standpoint.

And I don't have webcam

If they need to see my face, it'll be via phone in my living room where it's safe for the children and sensitive folk.

 

[GreyGhost]

Out of curiosity, how is this a 'sexual harassment' issue? I'm legit curious for how/why this would work (even though I know it would, I just don't understand the rationality or logistics behind it.)

And I don't have webcam

If they need to see my face, it'll be via phone in my living room where it's safe for the children and sensitive folk.

The extension would be a pic of a coworker with jizz on her face, a few steps back and you get to your posters. Could be seen as an attempt to assert dominance/devalue women. You might ultimately win, but as soon as lawyers get involved you have already lost.

 

[油井緋色]

The extension would be a pic of a coworker with jizz on her face, a few steps back and you get to your posters. Could be seen as an attempt to assert dominance/devalue women. You might ultimately win, but as soon as lawyers get involved you have already lost.

Oh totally, especially with the internet. Name + law suit = no job forever in that industry (possibly......because I've worked with an ex pornstar before that was stellar at her job, but some coworkers literally wrote ****** glassdoor reviews about the company for hiring her....which, imo, is ****** up because it doesn't detract from her ability to do her job.)

But the bolded part is the key difference...there's no coworker with jizz on face, so from a logical standpoint it shouldn't hold. Not that I disagree with you.

 

[TwistedKestrel]

And I don't have webcam

In that case, I suppose nobody would be the wiser. But then what "software glitches" are you worried about?

 

[油井緋色]

In that case, I suppose nobody would be the wiser. But then what "software glitches" are you worried about?

Hypothetical question. Edge cases. I've an active mind lol

 

[mimico_polak]

Out of curiosity, how is this a 'sexual harassment' issue? I'm legit curious for how/why this would work (even though I know it would, I just don't understand the rationality or logistics behind it.) Also, how is it porn if the drawings are fully clothed? They just have their tongues sticking out and some white liquid covering. There's no penises or penetration. It's art! (half sarcasm, half serious here.)

....well, maybe one has a see-through t-shirt, but hey, if men can be topless and show nipples, why can't women? Equal rights am I right? Again, just to emphasis, I totally know this would probably result in a sexual harassment lawsuit or whatever, but I can't figure out why from a rational standpoint.

And I don't have webcam

If they need to see my face, it'll be via phone in my living room where it's safe for the children and sensitive folk.

I see your point...BUT...all someone needs to get you in trouble is state that your actions, words, gestures, or artwork makes them uncomfortable and that they believe the motivation is sexualized in nature. Depending on how aggressive/militant your HR department is this can lead to an (in)formal talking to, disciplinary action, or dismissal.

Doesn't take much. You know very well that some people get offended very easily. I worked with a woman that said another colleague of ours made her uncomfortable so she needed time off work (close to a year). Was he sexually harassing her? I'm not sure. But I do know he's touchy feely along females so I'm going to go with a yes on this one (without witnessing it).

To him it's normal, to the recipient...doesn't need much more than feeling uncomfortable.

EDIT: Looked over the images you referenced...nice...definitely can be classified as sexual harassment by some...and definitely NOT fit for being a backdrop during zoom meetings.

 

[TwistedKestrel]

Hypothetical question. Edge cases. I've an active mind lol

Then what I said stands.

Is Pornography at Work Sexual Harassment? - E & B

Pornography at work creates hostile work environment and sexual harassment claims. Could pictures also be criminal revenge porn under New York law?

www.eandblaw.com

characters. Most search engines use a maximum of 60 chars for the title.

Viewing of pornographic videos or pictures at work may create a hostile work environment for employees and co-workers who are offended by these ...

www.akinlaws.com

 

[油井緋色]

I see your point...BUT...all someone needs to get you in trouble is state that your actions, words, gestures, or artwork makes them uncomfortable and that they believe the motivation is sexualized in nature. Depending on how aggressive/militant your HR department is this can lead to an (in)formal talking to, disciplinary action, or dismissal.

Doesn't take much. You know very well that some people get offended very easily. I worked with a woman that said another colleague of ours made her uncomfortable so she needed time off work (close to a year). Was he sexually harassing her? I'm not sure. But I do know he's touchy feely along females so I'm going to go with a yes on this one (without witnessing it).

To him it's normal, to the recipient...doesn't need much more than feeling uncomfortable.

EDIT: Looked over the images you referenced...nice...definitely can be classified as sexual harassment by some...and definitely NOT fit for being a backdrop during zoom meetings.

Totally not fitting lol

Actually, I know a manager who was fired because a coworker told management "he said he wanted to grab my pussy." Said manager was socially awkward but I don't think that's something he'd say. Said coworker was incompetent, slow at her job, did not take criticism very well, and a known compulsive liar. Said manager was also aggressive with objectively pointing out flaws with code.

Guess who got fired right after and had no idea why?

 

[油井緋色]

Then what I said stands.

Is Pornography at Work Sexual Harassment? - E & B

Pornography at work creates hostile work environment and sexual harassment claims. Could pictures also be criminal revenge porn under New York law?

www.eandblaw.com

characters. Most search engines use a maximum of 60 chars for the title.

Viewing of pornographic videos or pictures at work may create a hostile work environment for employees and co-workers who are offended by these ...

www.akinlaws.com

But why is one's considered an employer's workplace? Obviously, this won't fly at work (though I've had boundary pushing wallpapers at every workplace I've been lol), but it's one's home, sanctuary, castle, etc.

 

[mimico_polak]

But why is one's considered an employer's workplace? Obviously, this won't fly at work (though I've had boundary pushing wallpapers at every workplace I've been lol), but it's one's home, sanctuary, castle, etc.

I had to explain to one of my buddies why it's a bad idea to watch porn on the company laptop on site...I couldn't believe I had to explain this to a 25 year old man...

 

[油井緋色]

I had to explain to one of my buddies why it's a bad idea to watch porn on the company laptop on site...I couldn't believe I had to explain this to a 25 year old man...

Wait, really? LOL

I think it's common sense if it's a work place, work equipment, etc. etc. but there's a clear boundary blurring issue happening now with WFH being so dominate.

 

[GreyGhost]

But why is one's considered an employer's workplace? Obviously, this won't fly at work (though I've had boundary pushing wallpapers at every workplace I've been lol), but it's one's home, sanctuary, castle, etc.

I know what you mean, but when they are paying you to work from home, unfortunately you need to make at least part of that space acceptable for work. If your work never requires video calls, decorate as you see fit. If they require video, come up with a solution that works (remove, backdrop, different room etc). I don't think you need your whole house to be ready to accept client visits, but you need at least one space that can accommodate a video call imo.

I know some people go to the office for meetings. They are working from home but prefer to go and sit in a conference room in an empty office building for formal (online) meetings.

 

[TwistedKestrel]

But why is one's considered an employer's workplace? Obviously, this won't fly at work (though I've had boundary pushing wallpapers at every workplace I've been lol), but it's one's home, sanctuary, castle, etc.

It's not about being on company property. If you are all in a meeting with each other, visible to each other, that is a workspace. Showing up with messy hair or wearing a blanket, whatever - fine, that is a matter of being in your home. But you can't force other people to view explicit content just because you wallpapered your personal property with it

 

[油井緋色]

It's not about being on company property. If you are all in a meeting with each other, visible to each other, that is a workspace. Showing up with messy hair or wearing a blanket, whatever - fine, that is a matter of being in your home. But you can't force other people to view explicit content just because you wallpapered your personal property with it

So in the case where software glitches and the employee is being mindful and respectful by using a backdrop, why axe the employee? (We all agree it'll happen.)

Cause yeah, I don't wanna see ***** on someone's walls if they got a collection of huge black dildos, I get that. But if the employee is making an effort to cover it up to respect others, what more could I ask for?

 

[GreyGhost]

I had to explain to one of my buddies why it's a bad idea to watch porn on the company laptop on site...I couldn't believe I had to explain this to a 25 year old man...

An friend of a friend got themselves in trouble many moons ago. They were in charge of IT for a gov't office. They were working from home using their own computer on the weekend (keener, should be good right?). They decided to take a break from work and watch some inappropriate movies (off the clock so presumably no big deal). After a few hours of that, they get an email about suspicious activity at the office. Apparently they forgot to disconnect from the office VPN and the server at the office was set to send panic emails above their level if certain keywords were seen. Afaik, they weren't watching anything illegal just very questionable. They had a meeting on Monday and explained the situation and got a note in their file. Next time it happened would have been immediate termination with cause.

 

[GreyGhost]

So in the case where software glitches and the employee is being mindful and respectful by using a backdrop, why axe the employee? (We all agree it'll happen.)

That's why I wouldn't trust a software backdrop if I knew I had something that could result in major issues behind. Too many dbags would just blame a software glitch when they actually flipped it off for a second on purpose. In some situations, there is no opportunity to survive a glitch so you need to make sure it can't happen.

 

[mimico_polak]

On our remote site i spoke with out IT department and said ‘I’m surprised you guys are letting porn....during ‘porn-o-clock’ I can’t call the wife as the network is so slow’
IT: you guys are a dry camp....no strip clubs, no booze, no drugs ... decision was made to let the boys have something. 90% of the traffic was porno.

they actually considered getting a porn channel on the tv to free up bandwidth!

 

[油井緋色]

An friend of a friend got themselves in trouble many moons ago. They were in charge of IT for a gov't office. They were working from home using their own computer on the weekend (keener, should be good right?). They decided to take a break from work and watch some inappropriate movies (off the clock so presumably no big deal). After a few hours of that, they get an email about suspicious activity at the office. Apparently they forgot to disconnect from the office VPN and the server at the office was set to send panic emails above their level if certain keywords were seen. Afaik, they weren't watching anything illegal just very questionable. They had a meeting on Monday and explained the situation and got a note in their file. Next time it happened would have been immediate termination with cause.

Hahahahhahahahahahaha.

I've told my workplace before they either get me a powerful computer or I'm using my personal desktop for WFH. I also explicitly told them I have 2TB of stuff that they do not want to know about so if I VPN in, and my torrents are running, it's on them.

I'm still using my desktop lol go figure.