to think that people should not wear headphones and listen to music in the office

[Jewels234]

I work in a very large open plan office, where we sit in individual teams.

More and more people are putting in headphones and listening to music all day...and it's driving me insane! You can hear the 'tsk tsk tsk' noise of their music (I really don't want to be the grumpy one who asks them to turn it down). And if you need to ask a question you look like a complete idiot repeating their name until they realise they are being spoken to.

I know I can't change it...and probably am BU, but it feels unprofessional and unsociable. Also, hearing faint music constantly is so irritating. I can't beat them...so do I join them?

[GnomeDePlume]

I am wondering whether Phaedra is my boss. My boss believes that her way of listening to music is the right way and that it isnt possible to concentrate on work as she cant concentrate if she is listening to music.

Sometimes I want to shout - 'yours isnt the only experience!' but I dont because I am polite.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

Is phaedra for real? Listening to music on headphones is the norm in all the offices I worked in. I am 39 and they are all professional jobs with graduates. (One is postdoc so half the staff have PhDs). I listen to it less than most but it is an expected 'right' in an office. I would never have thought it needs approval! So OP join them them and you won't here their music nor would would you be disturbed by teleconferences. And you get someone's attention via IM. It is considered rude to just go and disturb someone at their desk. They should be allowed to answer you when they have a moment. Instead of whenever you want.

[MyFairyKing]

There are actually some studies that prove certain types of music can aid concentration. Us humans are complex creatures, our various levels of cognition enable us to listen and focus on important tasks.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

rubybleu I use the same type of music to concentrate. Jazz and classical, no speech. I prefer silence but there is none to be found in an open plan office. If I work from home, I don't have music. I use spotify and they have very good play lists for 'focus' music.

I'm sure some here would find it shocking all the places I work for have unlimited free internet access too. You can check Facebook, eBay etc as long as you are reasonable.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

We have unlimited free internet access too, if it's legal you can look at it.

[SignYourName]

I wish my boss would wear headphones. She plays awful bland pseudo jazz music on her iphone in her office, but my desk is right outside her office and she keeps her door open so I can hear her squawky screechy saxophone music of choice, which is not to my taste, most of the fecking day. I've mentioned it, as politely as I could, but I think she thought I was joking as she has made no attempt to turn it down or play it less frequently.

[nooka]

I can't personally work to music, and hearing other peoples music faintly playing would drive me around the bend, but I know lots of people find it helps them to concentrate. I like a working hubbub background best so I actually like open plan. It seems incredibly arrogant to claim what works for other people.

[ClashCityRocker]

Nooka, exactly. Some people find music helps them concentrate (I know I do, right back from being at school and doing my homework with headphones in). For others, it's a distraction.

As long as people are doing it considerately so other colleagues aren't subjected to their music, I don't see what the problem is.

[Pilgit]

We use them in our office to indicate we don't want to be disturbed. If we're plugged in - we're concentrating or have a deadline so come back later. So long as we're not plugged in all day every day it's fine. No one has their music up so loud anyone else can hear it though - that is just irritating and anti social!

[Iggly]

Mmmm tough one. It makes me realise actually how stressful open plan can be if you don't have anywhere to hide and concentrate. I end up having to take work home.

[LewisNaiceHamilton]

Likewise, Pil.

Phaedra, if everyone in your office is working quietly and alone, then the general atmosphere will be conducive to intense, individually-focused outputs.

In my office, there's a lot of collaborative, face-to-face working which inevitably raises the volume. And even when it's quiet, it only takes one person to be engaged in a phone call for the gentle hubbub to become intrusive.

[MamaPain]

Phaedra what sector do you work in? Surely thats relevant as it keeps being said in 'your' sector.

I have been really interested in this thread, as an employer. Prior to having my company I've worked in very man offices and as far as I remember having music playing has always been the norm.

We have always had the radio on, although not loudly, and I actively encourage the use of earphones. The only people who wouldn't use these are those in client management/sales because they are constantly on the phone.

We have a spotify playlist that all can contribute to and then on a friday we play from that. Nowadays I'm not in the office much but I think music adds to morale.

[MeadowHeartshimmertheFairy]

I work in construction (not on site) and this has never been allowed. Have worked for some smaller contractors and some of the Top 10 contractors and the only people I've seen use headphones in the office have been graduate trainees who are told pretty swiftly that it's frowned upon by management and to turn them off.

Just my experience.

[slightlyglitterstained]

Also curious about Phaedra's sector.

I actually almost never listen to music when working, as I don't like the feel of headphones/earbuds (don't enjoy sound coming from that close to my ears, it feels tiring after a while).

But in my sector of IT I honestly think you'd have riots in the offices I've worked in if you tried to ban listening to music at work. Software development requires both high levels of collaboration and also periods of intense concentration - tricky to manage both in open plan unless you have a way for people to tune out the discussions around them. Plus, putting headphones on to signal "need to concentrate, please don't interrupt" is so commonly understood that I've actually got headphones on my desk that I put on unplugged sometimes!

[GnomeDePlume]

Meadow is this a kind of 'one size suits all policy'? Headphones not allowed on site so not allowed in the office?

I like your idea MamaPain. I think that sharing music can be a good way of helping a team to bond. I hade been thinking that if I could ever get to persuade my boss to leave that I would suggest having Radio Team Member XX on a Friday but I think your idea is better.

[MaidOfStars]

In my office, headphones in means 'Don't interrupt me, for any reason whatsoever'. I wear headphones a lot, even if not listening to music. I don't share with many, but a glass door seems to invite others to stop by and chat.

In my lab, the radio is always on. Whether it is on Radio One or XFM is down to who gets there first.

[atticusclaw]

I'm guessing from what Phaedra has said about being an employee and now a boss that she is a partner in law firm or accountancy firm.

I would agree that it is frowned upon in that sort of environment, in fact the one person who did this at my last firm was regarded as very antisocial.

Having said that I now work from home and have the tv or radio in in the background constantly and am quite able to concentrate.

[MeadowHeartshimmertheFairy]

gnome I'm not sure to be honest. Obv no music allowed on site for health and safety reasons as well as Considerate Constructors Scheme but in the office it's just viewed as shockingly unprofessional (re-emphasise this is just my experience). Like having your feet up on the desk I suppose. Wouldn't necessarily impact productivity if you were reading a document, for example, but would definitely look a bit to senior management.

[SwedishEdith]

Yes I thought it must be accountancy or law or even air traffic control (but that wouldn't fit) Either way, pretty conservative sectors - hence the "incredulous" husband

[atticusclaw]

Conservative but also in law a junior lawyer would be expected to be listening to what is going on so that they can learn.

[MamaPain]

But my DH works in a relatively senior position in the legal department but in the financial sector, typical city firm. I know when he is really trying to focus he puts earphones in.

Maybe it isn't done by the more junior staff, and I know they don't have the radio on but I think occasional use of earphones is considered acceptable.

[MamaPain]

When I see him (if I remember) I'll ask what the policy is. Like any elf-respecting large 'serious' company they have a policy for everything so I'm sure there will be one for this.

[PetulaGordino]

they have a policy on respect for elves? political correctness gorn maaaaad!

[GnomeDePlume]

Meadow interesting. My boss views it as unprofessional. I wonder if it is a work generational thing. My boss is only 3 years older than me but started work at 16 where I started at 22 so putting her a generation older than me in work terms IYSWIM. I'm 48, she is 51.

I think it is one of those things which is lead from the top. Person at the top says 'unprofessional' and everyone else has to agree or challenge the concept of professionalism.

[MamaPain]

Yes they take the little people very seriously. The elves get extremely pissy when disrespected, policies are a must, don't want to end up on the naughty list.