Working from home sounds like a dream to a lot of people, right up until everyone in your life decides that means you’re always on call.

One man found himself constantly fielding calls and favors from friends and family simply because they knew he was physically at home, regardless of whether he was actually free.

When he didn’t respond right away, the follow up texts weren’t understanding, they were accusatory, questioning what could possibly be keeping him too busy to answer.

He finally spoke up, explaining that being home doesn’t mean being available, only to get told he was overreacting over something that takes “two seconds.”

That’s when a fairly reasonable boundary turned into a full blown disagreement about what people feel entitled to.

Keep reading for the full scoop.

AITA for not answering my friends and family just because they know I’m home?

I work from home, and lately I’ve noticed that some of my friends and family seem to assume that means I’m basically available all day.

They’ve started to act rather entitled when it comes to taking up his time.

They’ll call me randomly, ask me to do favors, or expect quick responses because they know I’m at home. If I don’t answer, I’ll sometimes get another text like “I know you’re home,” or they’ll ask what I was doing that I couldn’t respond.

There are lots of other reasons why he wants to reserve his right to not respond.

The thing is, even when I’m not actively working, sometimes I just don’t want to talk. I might be cleaning, taking care of things around the house, or literally just enjoying having some time to myself.

So finally he starts laying down the law.

Recently I told someone that me being home doesn’t automatically mean I’m available. They thought I was being rude and said it takes two seconds to respond to a text and that I’m making a big deal out of nothing.

He doesn’t think this is a fair expectation.

I don’t think having access to my phone means everyone should have constant access to me.

AITA for ignoring calls/texts when I’m home even if I technically could answer?

Some people just like to go off the grid for a while.

What did Reddit have to say?

Don’t we as a society understand by this point there’s more than one way to work?

Some things, like personal space, are sacred.

This user condemns people who are too attached to their phones.

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This commenter goes even further, shaking their finger at the state of modern society.

Having a phone within reach has never meant an obligation to answer it, remote job or not.

This man’s frustration is completely reasonable, being physically present at home doesn’t erase the need for uninterrupted time, whether that’s for chores, quiet moments, or simply not wanting to engage in that exact instant.

Comparing an unanswered text to something as trivial as “two seconds” ignores the reality that constant interruptions add up, especially for someone already navigating a workday from home.

His family and friends need to start learning how to respect his boundaries.