So I currently am WFH and have told my significant other multiple times when I’m working not to interrupt cause I could be on a call, in a meeting, or any number of things.
It’s happened a few times and I’ve let it slide but I’ve moved into a bedroom to mitigate this and while being recorded with a customer they asked if I needed anything from the store. I had just told them I’d be on break at a certain time and they did this 7 minutes before the break. I snapped at them and told them everything we need is on our shopping list. Their #1 reply is "I didn’t mean to." and #2 "I forgot."
AITA?
edits:
took out husband or wife mentions.
Unfortunately the bedroom leads from a long hallway with no door. I try using the closet door as a block but they just close it.
Nta. Tell them you love them but send all inquiries through text while you’re working. If this can mess up your work, it’s really important you sit down with them and genuinely discuss this. You wouldn’t be popped in on in an office… you shouldn’t be at home either.
NTA. Your wife should treat your WFH space as a professional environment and not disrupt you when working. If you were in the middle of the living room and taking over the house – I’d be more lenient about disruptions but since you are in a bedroom there is no reason to walk in and disrupt you.
NTA – my husband is WFH and I would no sooner interrupt than fly to the moon. If I desperately need him and the door is closed, I text him. He can answer when he is not on a call or open the door.
NTA. I work remotely when not traveling, and people who can’t respect that you’re actually working while at home are a nuisance at best. At worst, they think whatever they want is more important than what you’re doing and have communicated to them in advance.
I’d sit down with her, tell her that you moved into the bedroom during working hours for a reason, and that she needs to respect your work schedule or you’ll have to start working on alternate plans, locking the door, etc.
NTA. I love my husband, but he interrupts me while I’m working and gets annoyed if I don’t engage. It’s frustrating. Then I end up being the bad guy for telling him I’m busy.
NTA. Need a Do Not Disturb style obvious sign on the door or like a white board
This is so frustrating. I have the same problem. They really have to think of it as if you are not there. If they need to talk to you, they should text or call as they would if you were in the office.
NTA. There are three of us in my household that all work from home on certain days. None of us would EVER interrupt another like that unless the house were on fire. Your significant other needs to respect you and your work. I can imagine how frustrated you are.
Nta. All communication while in our offices is via text. If we’re in a neutral room during the work day like living room or kitchen it’s fair game to chat.
I mean we weren’t there to gauge the harshness of your reaction, but on paper NTA
Is she trying to get you fired? Is she just too stupid to understand what “I’m on a live call with a customer” means? It’s the equivalent of her driving to an office building, barging into a meeting room where you’re sitting with a coworker or client, and asking if you need anything from the store.
I’ve worked at home since Covid. When I’m on a call or up against a tight deadline, I close my office door, which is code for Do Not Disturb. Otherwise, I leave my door cracked open. If my kids can understand the concept of a live meeting, so can your adult wife. She’s sabotaging you. Get a lock for the door and use it.
NTA
You’ve already done your part by not working in communal areas, and limiting your space to the bedroom (I imagine there isn’t/isn’t space for a room dedicated to working).
SO came in to ask a question that easily could have been answered by consulting the list. Let alone the fact that it was 7 minutes before your break, which you already told them about (yet another measure you’ve taken to mitigate distractions). Was the shop going to shut soon or did they really not think their actions through?
Saying “I didn’t mean to” or “I forgot” is something a child would say when they make a mistake. And even then a child would eventually learn to correct their behaviour. This is not something to be seen from an adult if they have any respect your job, or your space.
Perhaps SO needs a visual reminder, like a Do Not Disturb sign on the door. And set up a way for communication if they really feel the need to send you a message at an inconvenient time (e.g. texts but you only check at a pre-specified time, otherwise it can wait).
Maybe they’re a little lost on what requires an urgent response? It might be worth having a conversation about which topics are worth an interruption, ones that require a response soon but not urgently, and non-issues can be saved for the end of the day (e.g. if she wants to show you a meme, that can be saved for when you “clock out”, which would technically be just after you come home if you were working a conventional job).
NTA. WORK from home is work – meaning you’re unavailable. Your partner should only be texting you if they need anything or want your feedback on something during work hours. Forgetting is not an excuse. Is there any way you can move to a room that can be locked?
NTA. As you already know the “I didn’t mean to” is bullshit (you told your SO exactly when you’d be on break, and even if you hadn’t, they know you’re working) and so is “I forgot” (forgot you were working? How?)
There are a couple of things you can do. Option 1: rig up a red studio light outside the office door and turn it on while you’re working. Option 2: lock the door and buy soundproof headphones. Option 3: find a remote-work space and just leave the house while you’re working.
Option 4, of course, is to sit down with your SO and have a come-to-Jesus talk with them about the effect their behavior is going to have on your job, your professional reputation, your promotion opportunities, and your paycheck. Tell them “I didn’t mean to” and “I forgot” are excuses five-year-olds give and you’re not going to let them slide anymore. Find out what exactly is going on – do they not think you’re really working? Do they think that work that you do from home isn’t really work? Do they just want attention? What is actually the issue here? Because it’s not okay for them to interfere with your livelihood.