If some cafes open their doors to remote workers, etiquette should be respected.
There are more and more of them. Regular customers include telecommuters, freelancers and students tapping away at their keyboards in the tidy surroundings of the small cafe with its Scandinavian decor. With a warm atmosphere, available Wi-Fi and electrical outlets, the alternative is much more comfortable and sociable than working alone at home. A boon for customers, but a bane for some restaurateurs when the limits are overstepped. But then, how long can you work at a coffee shop before you start annoying the barista? Decoding:
A question of consumption
At Le Grand Breguet (1), located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, telecommuting is widely tolerated. In this spacious room dotted with mismatched chairs, customers are there every day to get down to business. Some stay for an hour, others in the morning. And then there are those who spend the day there. It’s not enough to anger the housekeeper Paul, but on two conditions. The first. Consume “We’re generally pretty flexible, but if we notice a customer is only ordering one coffee a day, we’ll be happy to let them know.” In order not to exceed your intake, the expert advises to “consume the equivalent of at least one meal during the day.”
” data-script=”https://static.lefigaro.fr/widget-video/short-ttl/video/index.js” >
The second rule. Order food when it’s lunch time, risking the establishment losing a table with a higher bill. A common sense question that some customers understand, such as Lea*, a freelancer who frequents coffee shops; One afternoon Leah orders a simple cafe au lait. From time to time he treats himself to extra tea or a snack. “I pay an average of €5 for my latte to stay between 2pm and 7pm. It’s a win-win for me, so I understand it might annoy some restaurateurs. On the other hand, I tell myself that in slow times, we don’t take anyone’s place.
“demoralizing silence”
However, some establishments suffer from their popularity among migrant workers. At Café Fika (2), located in the heart of the Swedish Institute in the Marais, Paris, it is now forbidden to bring out your computer. “It was a difficult decision, but a necessary one,” confides Caroline Nobile, co-founder of this establishment that specializes in the practice of “fika,” a Swedish coffee break that gives way to social interactions. “When you have a room full of customers, there’s a demoralizing silence. “It creates isolation in a place that encourages social interaction.”
This problem is especially true for small businesses. Indeed, Caroline and her teams, with their 30 seats, had to turn away customers who came to eat. Therefore, we no longer had room to receive customers who came for lunch.”
This decision to ban computers, however, was not well-received by stakeholders, as negative comments about the company appeared on Google overnight; Especially in a small area, where everyone is involved,” emphasizes Caroline Nobile. So, to ensure that we do not abuse the favor of restaurateurs, we choose an appropriate establishment, and above all, consumption.
*The name has been changed.
(1) Le Grand Bréguet, 17 rue Bréguet, 75011 Paris.
(2) Café Fika, at the Swedish Institute, 11 rue Payenne, 75003 Paris.
Source: Le Figaro
