Coffee Shops Across The US Trying To Buck The Reputation Of Cafes As A Workplace By Banning WiFi And Laptops – CoffeeTalk

Coffee shops across the US are implementing no-WiFi and laptop policies to discourage remote workers from setting up shop. This is due to the increased number of employees working remotely, which has led to overcrowding, affecting sales, and detracting from a community feel. While many companies are now enforcing return-to-work policies, remote work numbers are still higher than they were pre-pandemic, according to the Census.

Coffee shop owners explain that the reasons behind the no-WiFi policy vary, with some wanting it to benefit their bottom line, others to ensure turnover and increased access, and some just to maintain an analog vibe. Devoción, a New York-based chain of coffee shops, began limiting customers’ WiFi use to two hours during weekdays after remote work increased during COVID. Customers must get a code through an app to access the internet, and it is shut off entirely on weekends.

David Valdez, owner of Detroit-based coffee shop Alba, instituted a no-WiFi policy from the start to encourage engagement and encourage non-screen engagement. However, online diehards often bring their laptops into Alba and pirate internet access from nearby storefronts or use their hotspots.

Some businesses have had to make the decision to cap internet usage, such as D.C.-based café Elle, which started without WiFi but started getting angry Google reviews from customers seeking hookups. They have since imposed a 1.5-hour limit on internet usage and asked users to restrict their time to 1.5 hours.

Elle’s bottom line played into the decision to cap internet usage, as it can’t have someone sitting there for three hours on the weekend while waiting for people who want to eat brunch. The coffee shop has seen an increase in laptop users since DOGE layoffs began hitting D.C. earlier this year, with about 80% of the people in the shop being on laptops and “job hunting” or taking interviews via Zoom.

One unexpected upside of this approach is actual human interaction that doesn’t take place on a screen, as networking has become more common.

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