Remote workers and cafe owners should be allies, not enemies

I am sure that the wind does not consume anything and does not generate profit

IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO USE THIS ESTABLISHMENT FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY.

This notice in a café in Rio de Janeiro caught my attention. I posted the photo on LinkedIn, and it went viral with many haters and fans of the post —I didn't know there were so many defenders of unfriendly cafes in the world. Nevertheless, the debate around the issue is necessary. Here are some 10 reflections.

1. As with everything in life, common sense would solve the issue. Of course, a remote worker cannot spend the whole day in a cafe with four tables having only ordered a glass of water. This newsletter will never defend that. There are appropriate places to spend our afternoons working, and we need to identify them.

2. At the same time, establishments need to understand that the world has changed. Banning any professional activity is an outdated mindset. You could be in a cafe and suddenly have an emergency meeting or an unexpected task that needs to be done on the computer. Do you seriously prefer to lose a customer who could consume more and come back again because they cannot use the computer for 15 minutes?

3. Many comments that defend this type of cafe argue that these establishments benefit from turnover. Correct! But spending hours in a place that is not full it does not affect the turnover. I am sure that the wind does not consume anything and does not generate profit.

4. Now, even if the cafe is full, I wonder if a remote worker who spends the whole day there will cause a loss. Let's do the math.

   I spent six hours and consumed $40. If six customers had been in my place every hour, spending $10 each, that would be $60.

   Mathematically, indeed, it is better to have these customers. But how many of these customers come back to the establishment? Will there always be six customers in those six hours? I have been going to cafes recommended by other remote workers. When I like a place, I recommend it to others. A legion of high consumption and frequent customers is created. In addition, many remote workers post on their social networks, which non-remote workers also follow. Great visibility. In other words, we are excellent customers in the medium and long term. I want someone to prove this is not good for an establishment.

5. Moreover, it is essential to remember that remote workers do not always spend the whole day in one place. The most common thing is to stay there for a few hours when you are tired of being at home.

6. In the comments of my post, several measures were proposed that could help with this dilemma, such as charging a fee for work use. I like the idea. I would happily pay to enjoy the space for as long as I want. Instead of putting up a rude sign, think of measures to increase your profit.

7. Another efficient way in many cafes is to have an area with sockets and more appropriate tables for work and others without. This way, remote workers have their own corner where they will not be disturbed. Everyone wins.

8. When working in a cafe, I always try to consume something. When my hunger and sleep are satisfied, I order water to keep consuming. When the water runs out, or I can no longer drink, I hail from the menu again. In this process, you are always active and do not give unfriendly cafes a chance to look at you weirdly.

9. I read comments such as that of remote workers who complained about the noise around them because they had an important meeting. Dear remote workers, in this case you are wrong. If we are in a public place, we are subject to its conditions. And a coffee shop is going to be noisy. If you want silence, it's better to work from home.

10. Working from coffee shops is an incredible experience. As I wrote in this text, I feel good and productive in these places. Obviously, I want a place that makes me happy not to suffer losses —if it does, it will close, and I won't have the place anymore. Coffee shops and remote workers should be allies, not enemies. For this, we all need to move on from the 90s, as digital nomad Matheus de Souza wrote.