Working from home...
"Working from home" has become one of those lines that means everything and nothing. We know it means "not from the office", but that tells us very little. "Home", on the other hand, is full of meaning.
Our offices are functional, no matter how many pool tables we put in there. Its function is to enable us to get work done. We rarely identify with it or take our friends there.
Home, on the other hand, is part of who we are. Whether it's a one-bedroom flat in the city centre, an executive home on a commuter estate, or something much more personal out in the country, it's a statement. People see us on Zoom or Teams, what art we like, or our families. We are putting just a sliver of our souls on the line. We can use those slightly weird green screen backgrounds, which probably speaks volumes.
And there is etiquette. If you're coming into my home or inviting me into yours, please don't take it for granted. This is my / your space and requires to be treated as such. We may have corner offices…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Outside the Walls to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.