Remote workers and digital nomads are bad for cafes
Listen to the story (Indian accent)
In Spain, some cafes and bars are finding it difficult to accommodate digital nomads and other people working remotely.
Digital nomads are people who often work from different locations around the world, using cafes as their offices. However, in Spanish cities, these digital nomads are becoming less welcome.
Cafe owners have noticed that some remote workers often occupy tables for a long time, but only buy one coffee. Frustrated owners feel that this is not a sustainable way to run their businesses.
Many cafes and bars have started to take action. Some have turned off their WiFi to discourage remote workers. Others have put up signs that say remote working is not allowed during busy hours.
Cafes in other European cities, including Paris, Berlin, and Lisbon have also started to make rules for remote workers. Some have banned laptops, others charge laptop users an hourly rate.
Cafe owners are not only worried about their profit. They also want to continue providing a friendly place for customers to interact with each other.
The digital nomad lifestyle continues to be a popular choice for many people. More countries are making digital nomad visas available. Spain, with its sunny weather, affordable prices, and rich culture, is a top choice for digital nomads.
However, it’s clear that the lifestyle of a digital nomad is not always compatible with the local way of life.
As one cafe owner in Barcelona explained, some remote workers stay for eight hours after ordering just one espresso. It’s a situation that many cafe owners find difficult to manage.
Vocabulary32 words
- Find
- realize; learn; discover;
- Accommodate
- To make room for or help someone; to have or make space for someone or something
- Digital nomad
- someone who travels and works using a computer and the internet, instead of having a regular office
- Work remotely
- to work outside of the office, usually from home or a cafe
- Location
- an area; a place; a fixed place or position in space; where something is
- Around the world
- worldwide; in many places in the world; in many countries
- Owner
- the person who has something; the person who has the right to control something; the person who has something and can decide what happens to it;
- Notice
- to become aware of; to see; to learn of something
- Occupy
- to be in a place and using it; to use or to be in a place
- Frustrated
- feeling annoyed because something is difficult or unfair; feeling upset because you can’t do what you want
- Feel
- to be aware of; to have an emotional response to something; to “think” or “believe”
- Sustainable
- something that can continue for a long time without causing problems
- Run a business
- to manage a store or company; to operate a store or company
- Take action
- to do something to deal with a situation; to start doing something to make a change
- Discourage
- To make someone less likely to do something
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Rule
- A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
- Ban
- to not allow; to stop; to forbid; prohibit;
- Charge
- to ask someone to pay money for something that you are selling to them or doing
- Rate
- price; a fixed price paid or charged for something; an amount or level of payment;
- Profit
- The money a business makes after paying its costs; extra money; financial gain; money you can keep
- Provide
- to give or supply something that is needed or requested
- Interact
- When you talk to or do something with another person; To communicate or spend time with others
- Lifestyle
- The way a person or group of people live, including their habits, behaviors, and choices
- Visa
- a document that allows someone to enter or sometimes work/live a country
- Affordable
- not expensive; can be bought without too much cost or effort
- Rich
- a large amount; plentiful; abundant;
- Top
- the highest point or rank; the best
- Compatible
- able to exist or work with something else; work well together; to function with other things without problems
- Local
- related to or connected to a specific/particular place; existing in or belonging to the area that you are talking about; part of or in the city or country you’re talking about
- Way of life
- the habits, customs, and beliefs of a particular person or group of people; the typical pattern of behavior of a person or group
- Situation
- What is happening at a certain place/time; circumstance; state of affairs; the way it is; event; occurrence
Quiz
Answer key
1. They have banned laptops 2. It's not expensive and has nice weather 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
In Spain, _____ cafes and bars are finding it difficult to accommodate digital nomads and _____ people working remotely.
Digital nomads are _____ who often work from different locations around the world, _____ cafes as their offices. However, in _____ cities, these digital nomads are becoming less _____.
Cafe owners have _____ that some remote workers often occupy tables for a long time, but only _____ one coffee. Frustrated owners feel that _____ is not a sustainable way to run their businesses.
_____ cafes and bars have started to take action. Some have turned off their _____ to discourage remote workers. Others have put _____ signs that say remote working is not allowed during busy _____.
Cafes in other European cities, _____ Paris, Berlin, and Lisbon have also started to make rules for remote _____. Some have banned laptops, others charge laptop users an _____ rate.
Cafe owners are not only worried about their _____. They also want to continue providing a friendly place for _____ to interact with each other.
The digital nomad lifestyle _____ to be a popular choice for many people. More countries are making digital nomad _____ available. Spain, with its sunny weather, _____ prices, and rich culture, is a top choice for _____ nomads.
However, it’s clear that the _____ of a digital nomad is not always compatible with the _____ way of life.
As one cafe owner in Barcelona _____, some remote workers stay for eight hours after ordering just one espresso. _____ a situation that many cafe owners find difficult to _____.
Discussion questions
- Should cafes have special rules for people working remotely? Why or why not?
- Do you agree with the actions taken by the cafes? Why or why not?
- What are some solutions that would benefit both cafe owners and digital nomads?
- What are your thoughts on the digital nomad lifestyle?
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