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Unexpected "Sound Effects" on Conference Calls

February 4, 2008 · Filed Under WFH, telecommuting

As more and more people work from home and take company calls from there, it’s inevitable that we’ll be hearing more and more interesting sounds in the background going on at people’s homes. Everyone has heard the toddler trying to talk to daddy or mommy while they’re on an important conference call. Here are some of the other intriguing sounds you might be hearing in the background:

Excessive slurping of coffee
Small children to the extent that is sounds like the employee is moonlighting at a day care
Dogs barking
Toilets flushing
Trains
Cabs
Heavy breathing

The office creates a sterile environment for conference calls devoid of ancillary noise but at home, life goes on and the presence of families and their activities provide a backdrop for the modern day conference call.

My favorite is the toilet flush. I have not personally experienced hearing one on a call, but I have had friends who have heard one go down (excuse the pun) on a call. The funny thing is that many times, the initiator of the sounds can be identified since often there is a limited group of call participants who are at home while most are in the office. How many of you have succumbed to the call of mother nature and muted a call during a pit stop?

I’ve experienced an employee conducting another phone call in parallel with a conference call that I was on with them and they accidentally added the other party and the conversation to the first call! Although it was not a memorable call to listen in on, about 7 of us were listening in on a call that we weren’t invited to. Our call participants went silent as we were overcome by another conversation.

While we try to make avid use of the mute button, inevitably there are mishaps. It’s inevitable that you will be on the wrong end of the equation at some point in your work from home life.