I work from home. I frequently do media interviews via Skype. I have a young child.
It’s a dangerous cocktail.
I’ve had an “unexpected visitor” sometimes join me live on air, but I’ve never quite had something like this happen.
Sign up to our newsletterThis guest managed to keep his composure when his children interrupted his live @BBCWorld TV interview pic.twitter.com/3x5tgsVR8R
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 10, 2017
Well done to the dude for keeping his cool!
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Priceless. I love the way the childcare assistant (I assume) comes round the corner in a 4 wheel drift legs spinning road-runner style.
More seriously, the number of times conference calls at work get drowned out by children or dogs, it is rather frustrating. To be fair this chap wasn't expecting what happened!
"Childcare assistant", in Britain we normally refer to them as nannies. 'Childcare Assistant' is a pompous description just as "Vision Technician" is an equally stupid title for a Window Cleaner.
Anyway I believe the woman in question was his wife – press coverage varies.
Things like this happen and most people treat them with humor if they don't happen all the time. But….
If you have children at home, don't try to work from there. If you have no choice, get adequate off site child care. If that's not possible, set up a discrete area with locks, train your kids to stay away and be sure they have adequate supervision.
Because if your kids constantly interrupt, don't be surprised if your clients and colleagues treat you with the same short temper they have for parents who bring squalling, disruptive brats to restaurants and theaters and inflict them upon others. After all, YOU had the kids, not them. And it's YOUR duty to control them so work gets done, not theirs.