Ah, working from home - the modern marvel that allows us to be productive while wearing pyjamas and eating cereal straight from the box. It’s a dream come true for the introverts among us, and a chance for the rest to discover just how many hours in a day there really are when you don’t have to commute.
But with great power comes great responsibility… or, in this case, the chance for things to go hilariously, gloriously wrong. Because while most of us have mastered the art of the Zoom call and perfected our ‘I’m definitely working’ face, others have taken the concept of remote work to absurdly literal heights.
The Never-Ending ‘Lunch Break’
We all know that one colleague who seems to be permanently “away from keyboard” just after lunchtime. But one enterprising employee took it to a whole new level. During a team meeting, he excused himself for a quick snack and didn’t return for an hour. Concerned colleagues eventually found him… fast asleep on a sofa, with his camera still on, blissfully unaware that he was now the unofficial mascot for ‘work-life balance gone wrong.’
That nap, while perhaps necessary, led to a new team policy: “Cameras off while snoozing, please.” Because, let’s be honest, no one needs to see you drool on a Zoom call.
The ‘Creative’ Workspace
When the world went remote, most of us set up camp at the kitchen table or commandeered a corner of the living room. But there are always outliers, like the employee who decided the best place to take a client call was from the comfort of their bathtub.
Yes, really.
The client was greeted with a cheery, “Welcome aboard!” and a background of rubber ducks floating serenely by. To their credit, they managed to close the deal, but not before the entire team heard the unmistakable sound of a rubber ducky solo.
The ‘Multi-Tasking’ Misadventure
We all like to think we’re excellent multi-taskers. But one employee learned the hard way that some tasks are best kept separate. During a crucial project deadline, he decided to combine work with a little DIY - specifically, retiling his bathroom.
The team was treated to the dulcet tones of a power drill and the occasional “Oops, not that tile!” interjected between discussions about quarterly targets. The video was swiftly muted, but the damage was done. From that day on, he became known as The Tile Whisperer.
The Pet Cameo Catastrophe
Pets have become beloved mascots of the home office, providing joy and an endless supply of Zoom call chaos. But one memorable meeting took an unexpected turn when an employee’s cat decided it needed attention – now.
Midway through an important presentation, the feline leapt onto the desk, promptly shutting off the webcam and leaving the team staring at a black screen. Moments later, the cat returned, this time with a dramatic hiss and swat at the mouse, sending the employee’s carefully crafted slides into oblivion.
It was a lesson learned: never underestimate the power of a kitty determined to sabotage your KPI report.
The ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’ Fiasco
In the world of virtual meetings, ensuring you’re presentable from the waist up is usually sufficient. But one unfortunate slip-up taught a different lesson. A colleague, confident in their business-casual upper half, stood up mid-call only to reveal a pair of cheerful SpongeBob pajama bottoms.
The ensuing silence was deafening, except for the occasional stifled giggle. From then on, the team’s unofficial dress code became: “Always assume you might have to stand up.”
The ‘Background Surprise’
Virtual backgrounds are a fun way to inject some personality into meetings, or so we thought until one employee decided to host a meeting from the “surface of Mars.”
Complete with dramatic alien invasions happening behind them, the meeting quickly derailed. The boss, however, wasn’t impressed and suggested using a less “distracting” background in the future. Perhaps a simple beach scene or a library would suffice.
Need a Team Who Can Work from Home Without the Shenanigans?
While remote work is here to stay, maybe it’s time to ensure your team has the right balance of professionalism and fun – minus the bathtubs and power tools.
At Coburg Banks, we specialise in finding candidates who excel in any environment, be it an office cubicle or their living room.
If you need to recruit a team that can work from home without turning every day into a comedy sketch, get in touch. We promise to find the perfect fit – rubber ducks not included.
