Working from home disasters: "Mom, why doesn't that man have any hair?"

When you are in a video conference with others, the first thing you usually ask is – "Can everyone hear me?"

Sometimes you keep logging in and out, and seek help from your colleagues because you cannot listen to anyone.

You might be tagged as "technologically challenged" or your colleague might be banned from eating while attending the meeting.

This home-quarantine and work-from-home is new to us. It is coming full of surprises and new experiences.

If you think you are the only one in this universe who is facing challenges while working from home, here is the good news for you: others are also dealing with similar problems just like you.

Some have shared their experiences of working from home with The Business Standard, and here are their stories.

Imran Hossain, Manager of Client Service and Operations, Rainbow Exhibition and Event Management Services Ltd

Once I was in a video conference with a colleague. After a few minutes, my colleague started fighting with his spouse.

At the beginning, I found it funny but after a while, I realised it was becoming an awkward situation and they were getting very serious.

I could not decide whether I should leave the conference or not.

When my colleague realised the issue, he ended the session, called back and said, "When are we starting office physically? I cannot take this anymore. I am going to die before the coronavirus attack."

Khodadad Mohammad Ziaul Huda, Software Developer, Spider Digital Innovation

I am a foodie. During tea breaks in office, I used to pamper myself with street food but now I do not have that option.

So, to pacify my gluttony, I make my food and snacks every now and then.

Now the situation is like this: I am making food, enjoying Netflix during the office hour and working during my sleep hours.

But I am a nocturnal person. So, in this quarantine period, I am finally working the way I want to and enjoying it.

Zerrin Afza, Manager, Brac

As I was attending a video conference, my daughter popped up on the screen beside me.

I did not say anything at the beginning as I was working from home, but she suddenly pointed to one of my colleagues and said, "Mommy! Did you see him? Why does he not have any hair? Mommy!"

I was very embarrassed and took her to the other room immediately.

Raihana Sayeeda Kamal, Journalist, The Business Standard

I was in an official video conference.

Suddenly, my maid came to clean my study room and was scolding her daughter for making a noise as I was working.

She made a real chaos there.

At last, I had to end the conference to avoid the chaos.

Sami Chisty, Lecturer, Notre Dame University Bangladesh

My wife used to think I am a good-for-nothing and my students praise me to get good marks in exam.

Since I have started taking online classes, she now understands that I actually know things.

So, I have been promoted at home, I guess!

Rupida Sadia, Specialist, Operation, Fifo Tech

My mother thinks I have not eaten all these days and now it is her mission to cook and feed me.

Literally, she has a chart she maintains which I cannot say "no" to.

Once I ate during a meeting and now I have to host my colleagues once this is over.

I guess I am going to gain 10 kilogrammes during the shutdown.

Rupak Khan, Journalist, The Business Standard

My parents think I am not working as I am home.

Recently, my computer crashed and now they are not convinced that I am actually working because I am using my phone.

So, I am going to office regularly.

Milton Haldar, Head of Video Editing and Graphic Design, eShikhon

As my boss shares my screen, I really cannot watch anything on my laptop for a break.

I always have to work, work and work.

So, this work from home is making me really productive.

Saurav Sarkar, Assistant Manager, Operations, Rainbow Exhibition and Event Management Services Ltd

My baby does not take my work seriously.

Whenever I start working, she sits on my lap and pleads with me to allow her to play on the laptop.

If I say "no", she tries to blackmail me with her puppy eyes which I cannot refuse.

Therefore, I work at midnight to avoid all these problems.

Asma Sultana, Communication Officer

Some of my colleagues stink really bad. The best part of this home quarantine is that I do not have to meet them physically.

Yet, whenever I see them in video conference, I can recall how bad they smell. This experience is pretty weird to me.

Iftakharul Badhon, Coordinator, Script Department, Show SRK

This work-from-home method is a myth.

When it started, I thought that there would be "less work." So, I packed my bag and came to my hometown to see my newborn baby.

Later, I understood that this "less work" term was a trap. Currently, I am flooded with more work than normal and I do not have any specific work hour.

There is continuous power outage every hour and the Wi-Fi does not work here properly.

And did you think it ends here? No! There's more

My computer crashed on the very second day.

Also, my daughter wakes up at midnight and I do not even get time to sleep.