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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:
AnneElliott · 08/10/2024 19:52

FuzzyPuffling · 08/10/2024 09:38

If I was involved in industrial espionage ( I'm not) I would just spend my days on commuter trains. It's amazing what you find out...

I remember MI5 coming to brief my Government Department on security matters and they said if they ever wanted to know what our Department was up to they would just sit at the back of the bus and listen in! That really made me think about how much people share without realising who might be listening.

Needmorelego · 08/10/2024 19:43

@MissRoseDurward the mysterious sheep phone call was infact a few days before the sheep across the bridge thing.
I was in a cafe not that far from the bridge. When I saw the news article I did think "oooh was that what that phone call was about?"
😂😂😂

Alaimo · 08/10/2024 19:37

I was on a train from London last month where a woman kept giving what sounded like legal advice: "No, you don't need to tell them anything. Yes, I understand it's nerve wracking, but just stay calm. They don't have a case against you. Just let me talk to them tomorrow, don't send them anything today."

It sounded like such an inappropriate conversation to have on a train.

Nutsabouttopic · 08/10/2024 19:36

the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 09:48

Why would I want to hear both sides of the conversation? I don’t want to even hear one side of it!!

I live in Ireland no such things as quiet carriages.

If you consistently work on the train and I mean loud calls not just going on your laptop, you are IMO prioritising your own quality of life over those travelling with you.

I don’t want to hear about your work on my commute.

Show quote history

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.

Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 19:24

MissRoseDurward · 08/10/2024 19:04

"We have the sheep pens, we just need the field"🐑
(This was in London.....where sheep fields don't really exist

Was he one of the Freemen of the City who was exercising his right to drive sheep across London Bridge?

I once overheard a whole conversation about legal proceedings relating to a girl who was in care.

Just keep your voices down, fgs, so other people can also work on the train without having their concentration broken by someone bellowing at the other end of the carriage. And no, I won't wear headphones. I don't find them comfortable for any length of time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y9l4z9qdqo

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 someone made the argument that people are forced to commute for affordability, have kids & people to look after. The people you are inflicting your shouty work calls on have the same challenges.

Fortuanely most people on public transport are well behaved and I had a very pleasant journey home.

OP posts:
Original poster
the7Vabo · 08/10/2024 19:20

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 19:00

Then take it up with your employers

Why would I do that? My job involves travelling. I'm more than happy to work on the train so it's not a problem. If you don't like it, take it up with the train company.

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

OP posts:
MissRoseDurward · 08/10/2024 19:04

"We have the sheep pens, we just need the field"🐑
(This was in London.....where sheep fields don't really exist

Was he one of the Freemen of the City who was exercising his right to drive sheep across London Bridge?

I once overheard a whole conversation about legal proceedings relating to a girl who was in care.

Just keep your voices down, fgs, so other people can also work on the train without having their concentration broken by someone bellowing at the other end of the carriage. And no, I won't wear headphones. I don't find them comfortable for any length of time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y9l4z9qdqo

Hollywood actor Damian Lewis wears a grey coat as he shepherds sheep across southwark bridge. City of London freemen walk in the background as members of the public take images on mobile phones

Damian Lewis shepherds sheep over London bridge

Damian Lewis ushered sheep along the historic trade route into the City of London.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y9l4z9qdqo

Bluenoodles · 08/10/2024 19:03

Train companies should introduce an exclusive vip working carriage for these very important people wankers that need to work on trains, leave the rest of us to enjoy our journey.

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 19:00

Then take it up with your employers

Why would I do that? My job involves travelling. I'm more than happy to work on the train so it's not a problem. If you don't like it, take it up with the train company.

Getonwitit · 08/10/2024 18:55

dreamingofsun · 08/10/2024 09:43

Are you OK with people talking, or is it that you cant hear both sides of the conversation that annoys you? Surely you could go in the quiet carriage if you are that bothered.

Having 3 kids, doing a long commute and not wanting to work on urgent things when i got home, meant that i usually worked on the train. And had to put up with fat/smelly/farty etc etc people

"Important" types gob off in the quiet carriages as well.

Afriendwithbreastsandalltherest · 08/10/2024 18:54

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 18:52

If I didn't make calls on the train, I wouldn't get my job done.

Then take it up with your employers

BringTheWine · 08/10/2024 18:52

If I didn't make calls on the train, I wouldn't get my job done.

Getonwitit · 08/10/2024 18:52

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · 08/10/2024 09:37

YANBU. And if they’re sharing work-sensitive information with the whole carriage, I’d take notes and report them.

I have done just that, it was information that you really wouldn't want other people to know, also had names and addresses. In the end up myself and the rest of the carriage knew too much. I pointed it out to the two muppets ( both HR) and took great delight in emailing their company. They deserved to loose their jobs and i hope they did.

idrinkandknowthings · 08/10/2024 18:43

'wash up session

@Humphhhh Why would anyone ever say this?

Humphhhh · 08/10/2024 18:41

idrinkandknowthings · 08/10/2024 18:35

I could live with it if they didn't talk such utter shit. The amount of business bollocks that they think makes them sound 'professional on-the-goers' is hilarious! The worst I heard was a woman who was talking about getting her team together after a day of 'interviewing potentials'. She called it a 'washing up session'. Dick.

It's the ones who sit in the cafe for hours at a time, babbling on about their job, jabbing at their laptop keys, hogging the seats and tables that I'd like to see jettisoned off into the atmosphere.

'wash up session'

Spectre8 · 08/10/2024 18:40

NotApplePie · 08/10/2024 09:52

I once overheard a call where someone was obviously taking a payment over the phone and repeated the person’s card details back to them so the whole carriage could hear! 🤦‍♀️

Had one of those and heard all her security information too

idrinkandknowthings · 08/10/2024 18:35

I could live with it if they didn't talk such utter shit. The amount of business bollocks that they think makes them sound 'professional on-the-goers' is hilarious! The worst I heard was a woman who was talking about getting her team together after a day of 'interviewing potentials'. She called it a 'washing up session'. Dick.

It's the ones who sit in the cafe for hours at a time, babbling on about their job, jabbing at their laptop keys, hogging the seats and tables that I'd like to see jettisoned off into the atmosphere.

EverythingIAm · 08/10/2024 18:32

I work on the train and make and receive calls as part of that. It's allowed so 🤷🏻‍♀️

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 08/10/2024 18:30

Eh, this is nothing new, I can remember people having long loud meetings on the train when I was a kid back in the 80s. It's one of the joys of public transport, like the drunk who inevitably sits next to you on a coach or the kid who kicks the back of your chair all flight long.

I feel that successful travel requires a good set of headphones and the ability to reach an almost zen state of calm. Or alternatively, a car.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/10/2024 18:23

Well, last time I was on a train "James" was apparently about to "get his fucking ass fired"....evidentally the man doing the loud call felt James had breached data protection and so was being dismissed. Oh the irony!

Afriendwithbreastsandalltherest · 08/10/2024 18:17

Maddy70 · 08/10/2024 18:09

I think its a really productive use of their time

I think it reduces their hourly rate if they're working off the clock.

YummySpins · 08/10/2024 18:13

Pre-covid, when I travelled into the office regularly, there was often this bloke ordering his bacon sandwich and coffee. I assumed it was so everyone would know he has very busy and important and had a secretary to do his bidding.

Knob.

MissMoneyFairy · 08/10/2024 18:12

Maddy70 · 08/10/2024 18:09

I think its a really productive use of their time

Presumably unpaid

Maddy70 · 08/10/2024 18:09

I think its a really productive use of their time