How much privacy should you be able to expect when working from home with other people around?

While being able to work remotely has many benefits, it is important to note its drawbacks as well. One of these is that it is more likely that a remote worker is not going to be doing their job in an environment that is perfectly attuned to delivering on their responsibilities. For every organized employee with a sophisticated home office setup or a convenient coworking space, somebody is doing their best to get their work done with noisy neighbors or needy family members to contend with.

At its worst, it is enough to make a person wish they worked in an office instead. However, those who are blessed with the flexibility to work from home can usually figure something out if they are willing to stand up for their right to work uninterrupted. While it is important to balance your job with other aspects of life, those around you should be able to respect your need to do your work in peace. If they can’t, it may get to a point where you cannot share your working environment or your home with them.