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Original poster

Work calls on trains

160 replies

the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 09:34

But of a rant but I’m sick of people using their commute time to do work calls.

I just moved location on a train as it looked like I was going to be subject to a call for almost the whole journey (an hour). He’s so loud I call still hear him from the other end of the carriage.

I also work in one of the largest organisations where I live and I regularly overhear calls relating to it.

The guy this morning had his laptop open, basically acting as if he was at a desk.

Is it unreasonable to expect that people consider that others may not want to be subject to the noise during their morning commute?

OP posts:
Jsogs · 08/10/2024 21:51

Just sit in the quiet carriage? I cannot get worked up over people taking work calls on a train. Or stick your headphones in like everyone else?

PrincessHoneysuckle · 08/10/2024 21:47

SecondClassmyass · 08/10/2024 10:21

I played Baby Shark loudly on a few occasions in response to loud wanky work calls on trains. The word offenders are the ones on loudspeaker, but those with headphones on tend to speak SO LOUDLY, so both are highly irritating.
One important man gesticulated furiously pointing at his EarPods that he was on a call. I just closed my eyes and kept vibing 🦈

Edited

🤣

Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 21:46

JADS · 08/10/2024 21:41

I feel your pain. My boss got me into the First Class BA lounge last week. We were quietly tapping away at our laptops and enjoying the free food while phone wanker was arguing with a colleague first how he didn't want to travel with work, then how he hated working with Jeremy and how he would prefer to work alone. Finally, he kept threatening to hang up because he was bored of the conversation.

Reader I was bored shitless too. I just wanted to enjoy a bit of quiet while waiting for my delayed flight. It spoilt the whole experience.

I once had to listen to someone discuss the tax elements of a transaction in a spa. People really just don’t care or they are incapable of thinking outside their own orbit.

OP posts:
BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 21:45

Why do you have to take calls on a train instead of in an office or at home?

Because I have visit sites throughout the country so spend a lot of time travelling.

XenoBitch · 08/10/2024 21:42

If they are making work calls, then it is not commute time. It is work time, and time is money.

Do you take umbrage with someone who taking a non-work call?

So what if someone has a laptop open on a train? I can't recall ever seeing anything that says it is forbidden. Most services have charging points and wifi so people can use laptops. You are getting mad at people for not following your own made up rules.

Saying that, I do agree with sensitive information should not be discussed on work calls in public.

JADS · 08/10/2024 21:41

I feel your pain. My boss got me into the First Class BA lounge last week. We were quietly tapping away at our laptops and enjoying the free food while phone wanker was arguing with a colleague first how he didn't want to travel with work, then how he hated working with Jeremy and how he would prefer to work alone. Finally, he kept threatening to hang up because he was bored of the conversation.

Reader I was bored shitless too. I just wanted to enjoy a bit of quiet while waiting for my delayed flight. It spoilt the whole experience.

Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 21:40

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 21:34

Well you've planned your life and workday in a way that has a negative impact on other people then - as seen in the voting and the numerous responses to you. You're right there's nothing that other people can do about your inconsiderate behaviour, but that doesn't mean it isn't inconsiderate.

I can't really plan it any differently. People are allowed to work and make calls on trains, you are aware of that? If I use trains outside of work and people are working/making calls, I don't class them as inconsiderate. They've got to work and trains are public places, not your own private room.

Why do you have to take calls on a train instead of in an office or at home?

OP posts:
Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 21:35

32nddalmation · 08/10/2024 20:59

Well you've planned your life and workday in a way that has a negative impact on other people then - as seen in the voting and the numerous responses to you. You're right there's nothing that other people can do about your inconsiderate behaviour, but that doesn't mean it isn't inconsiderate.

Show quote history

People who are answering - I absolutely have to take work calls on trains! If they were being honest how many of them plan their day around it?
It wasn’t as bad before Covid, a lot of people worked in offices and commuted. Now people have more flexibility so they travel at different times. My boss gets an early train home as she prefers missing the crowd. Fair enough but if she did a work call during that time it wouldn’t be true to say she had to, she could have stayed on the office and taken it.

I think once it goes to the level I saw it this morning - someone on a Teams call shouting at a laptop on a local area commuter train it’s another level of rude altogether. And the icing on the cake I got into a empty carriage and the guy came and seat in the 4 seats across from me.

OP posts:
BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 21:34

Well you've planned your life and workday in a way that has a negative impact on other people then - as seen in the voting and the numerous responses to you. You're right there's nothing that other people can do about your inconsiderate behaviour, but that doesn't mean it isn't inconsiderate.

I can't really plan it any differently. People are allowed to work and make calls on trains, you are aware of that? If I use trains outside of work and people are working/making calls, I don't class them as inconsiderate. They've got to work and trains are public places, not your own private room.

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 21:31

So you also get that if people make work calls in a public place, that information is fair game for anyone in the carriage who might have a use for it? Or do you never say anything that couldn’t be safely heard by whoever else happens to be nearby?

Of course. It's nothing top secret anyway. 😅 My employer knows I have to use my phone on the train. I wfh regularly and speak about anything more 'sensitive' on those days, but really there's nothing much like that.

Hurrayforfridays · 08/10/2024 21:30

Honestly, get some Loop earplugs. They don't completely block out the sound but muffle it so it's bearable. You shouldn't have to but there will always be self important idiots who think the world wants to hear their business.

Afriendwithbreastsandalltherest · 08/10/2024 21:26

I am enjoying how fast and free people are playing with personal and company data, and having no consideration for any risk to individuals or businesses or worse in the case of public sector/civil service staff.

lap90 · 08/10/2024 21:24

This is my pet peeve and it's not just work calls...

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · 08/10/2024 21:11

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 20:46

Planning to take calls, and making loud and long calls, is completely different to working quietly on a laptop. Many of us have to work on commutes but also take into consideration that we are sharing space with other people who may also want to concentrate on something or be taking their only opportunity in the day to rest.

I have to take/make calls. Sometimes I spend 6 hours of a 10 hour day in a train. I'm not loud and obviously keel calls as short as possible but I can't just not do them. Trains are public places, not private rooms.

So you also get that if people make work calls in a public place, that information is fair game for anyone in the carriage who might have a use for it? Or do you never say anything that couldn’t be safely heard by whoever else happens to be nearby?

32nddalmation · 08/10/2024 20:59

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 20:46

Planning to take calls, and making loud and long calls, is completely different to working quietly on a laptop. Many of us have to work on commutes but also take into consideration that we are sharing space with other people who may also want to concentrate on something or be taking their only opportunity in the day to rest.

I have to take/make calls. Sometimes I spend 6 hours of a 10 hour day in a train. I'm not loud and obviously keel calls as short as possible but I can't just not do them. Trains are public places, not private rooms.

Well you've planned your life and workday in a way that has a negative impact on other people then - as seen in the voting and the numerous responses to you. You're right there's nothing that other people can do about your inconsiderate behaviour, but that doesn't mean it isn't inconsiderate.

Jc2001 · 08/10/2024 20:58

Not just work calls. It's the people who hold the phone horizontally, 3 or 4 inches in front of the mouth (so they have to talk really loudly) with the loud speaker on and talk to their friends, so everyone else within 30 foot has to hear both sides of the conversation. REALLY LOUDLY.

Has no one explained to them how a fucking phone works?

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 20:50

It's inconsiderate if your working on a train impacts on other people and their ability to work on a train. You and your work are not more important than them and their work.

I'm often with a colleague who manages to work opposite me so I'm sure others manage to work too.

There have been times when I've wanted to read through some papers, but haven't been able to focus because of the noise of other people's phone calls. And some people do seem to talk almost non-stop and barely allow the person on the other end to get a word in, so there isn't even that much respite.

Trains are public places, you're not going to get peace. I need to read papers too and have to suck it up if someone else working is on a call.

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 20:46

Planning to take calls, and making loud and long calls, is completely different to working quietly on a laptop. Many of us have to work on commutes but also take into consideration that we are sharing space with other people who may also want to concentrate on something or be taking their only opportunity in the day to rest.

I have to take/make calls. Sometimes I spend 6 hours of a 10 hour day in a train. I'm not loud and obviously keel calls as short as possible but I can't just not do them. Trains are public places, not private rooms.

32nddalmation · 08/10/2024 20:39

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 19:58

Is the world really in such a state that we have to resort to - I won’t be considerate of other people unless you lobby the train company to force me to be

It's not inconsiderate of me to work on the train. Stop expecting the world to revolve around you. People need to work and those that use trains can't spend hours a day staring out the window when they're paid to work.

Planning to take calls, and making loud and long calls, is completely different to working quietly on a laptop. Many of us have to work on commutes but also take into consideration that we are sharing space with other people who may also want to concentrate on something or be taking their only opportunity in the day to rest.

MissRoseDurward · 08/10/2024 20:38

It's not inconsiderate of me to work on the train.

It's inconsiderate if your working on a train impacts on other people and their ability to work on a train. You and your work are not more important than them and their work.

There have been times when I've wanted to read through some papers, but haven't been able to focus because of the noise of other people's phone calls. And some people do seem to talk almost non-stop and barely allow the person on the other end to get a word in, so there isn't even that much respite.

Humphhhh · 08/10/2024 20:15

idrinkandknowthings · 08/10/2024 18:43

'wash up session

@Humphhhh Why would anyone ever say this?

Dunno. Common phrase in many organisations though.

Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 20:06

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 19:58

Is the world really in such a state that we have to resort to - I won’t be considerate of other people unless you lobby the train company to force me to be

It's not inconsiderate of me to work on the train. Stop expecting the world to revolve around you. People need to work and those that use trains can't spend hours a day staring out the window when they're paid to work.

Thinking that is ok to subject me to your work calls is expecting the world to revolve around you and your needs.

You don’t have to stare out the window you can email or message your communication.

OP posts:
BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 19:58

Is the world really in such a state that we have to resort to - I won’t be considerate of other people unless you lobby the train company to force me to be

It's not inconsiderate of me to work on the train. Stop expecting the world to revolve around you. People need to work and those that use trains can't spend hours a day staring out the window when they're paid to work.

Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 19:55

Nutsabouttopic · 08/10/2024 19:36

Irish Rail have Quieter Carriages normally Carraige G. There's a notice on the door stating its a Quieter Carriage and to be respectful of the rules. Staff will move people if they are not observing this. I travelled in one recently and it was very peaceful, a few people working on their laptops but nobody on phones.

Show quote history

Is this available on darts do you know?

OP posts:
MissRoseDurward · 08/10/2024 19:54

I find the headphone argument annoying. I have headphones, they cost approx €20 and they do me fine. Unfortunately though the call I heard this morning was so loud I could easily have heard it anyways. I can’t even guarantee top of the range headphones would have done the job.

And one does need to be able to hear passenger announcements, or someone calling out to tell you you've dropped your gloves/keys/wallet as you're getting off the train.