On the Menu | Hey, digital nomads – coffee shops are not your personal office
Coffee shops are great third spaces, but one filled with people on laptops nursing the dregs of a drink for hours is miserable for owners
Venner, a Nordic-style cafe in Sheung Wan, recently came under fire from guests angered by their “no laptops on weekends” policy, leading them to leave one-star reviews on Google.
“We completely understand how important laptops can be, but our policy is to keep weekends laptop-free so that everyone can slow down, enjoy their meals and disconnect a little,” the Venner team wrote in response. “It’s part of how we try to encourage a healthy work-life balance for both our guests and our team.”
To be clear, the cafe does not bar people from using their laptops on weekdays, when it is traditionally less busy. The policy, the owners say, is an extension of their philosophy that encourages guests to unwind and foster human connections, rather than mooching off an internet connection.
Co-owner Elin Fu, who was born and raised in Norway, explains that the idea of Venner was “to create a social cafe that carries the Nordic idea of slowing down and building connections”.
She explains that in a hustle culture city like Hong Kong, it felt important to encourage a healthier work-life balance. “So this ‘policy – which I really hesitate to even call it – is more of a reminder for myself and others to notice your coffee, your cinnamon bun, the atmosphere around you, and maybe even engage with the person across from you instead of only your screen, especially on weekends and days off,” she says.
