To think this is absolutely ridiculous?

[LoudLimeBeaker]

I’ve recently started a new job for a global attractions and theme park company. My role at the company has a global (it’s in the global corporate side of the business and so is not a site level role so is not linked to any one of their attractions in particular) remit so is not linked to any one of their attractions in particular. The company policy for people who work at global level and not site level is that you will be given an assigned office at their nearest attraction/site/theme park to where you live, so I’ve ended up based at one of their theme parks as that’s their nearest site to me. However the office they’ve given me is in the same building as a ride and all I can hear all day is the ride and it’s driving me insane! It’s so loud that it disrupts teams calls/meetings that I’m on. It’s driving me insane! I share the office with another colleague who has worked here for 4 years and she’s said that she has complained about it too for years and nothing ever gets done about it and they won’t give her another office either. There are other offices on the same site but I’ve asked too and they won’t give me another office either because they say there is no room in any other offices on the site. They will let me work from 1 day a week but other than that I have to be in the office every day which means having to listen to all the loud noises from that ride all day everyday and it’s driving me insane and it’s stopping from working properly! My employer won’t do anything about it though and I’m struggling to cope with it anymore. AIBU to think it’s absolutely ridiculous that they expect us to work like this?

Might be worth a call to ACAS.

you are protected under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 if the noise is "hazardous" ie >80 dB(A)

You can download onto your mobile, free personal noise dosimeters which measure sound levels

I'd start there @LoudLimeBeaker

Can you do something to monitor the noise? I think being in a closed room is different to operating the ride. Unless the ride operators are in a confined space, the noise will dissipate. In a closed room it's louder.

Why though? If the employer doesn’t recognise the union you’re paying a monthly sub for 5 mins employment advice

Our employer doesn’t recognise a union as far as I know but can a union still help me then? I haven’t been a member of a union before so I’m not sure how it works?

I’ll have a look at this, thank you so much.

Reps are generally pretty poor but in theory they can give you some legal advice and accompany you to disciplinary meetings etc. in those circumstances your employer won’t recognise them and will just treat them as a supportive friend.

i can’t imagine you’ll get anything from them you wouldn’t get from ACAS for free

just in case you don't realise @LoudLimeBeaker each of the 3 resources which are bolded in my post, take you directly to each relevant site 😊

eta; just hover your cursor over them and click

Call ACAS for advice. I would try and get a referral to Occupational Health, say that you're suffering from headaches due the noise. Get them to suggest an office move as a reasonable adjustment.

HR say there’s no space in the other offices on the site though?

I’d work from home regardless and say you can’t perform in your job due to noise levels. But you will come in if you can work from another building.

Does OP want to take it this far though? She could be fairly easily dismissed and even if not having only been there a short time it won’t be well received. HR have already said no.

OP I think if you’re this militant about it maybe it would be better to resign?

That’s crazy! It’s not as if you’re a ride operator you’re being asked to do an office based role inside a fairground ride! I would WFH more if you dare, and state how unproductive it is for you to do your job whilst inside a ride.

I could lose my job if I do that though? They have said I can only work from home for 1 day a week.

That is ridiculous, the ride operators don"t need to concetrate on written work or on what people are saying in meetings so the noise won't interfere with their primary role.

It's a bit like working for findus fish fingers in the office and complaining about a roof leak, to be told 'well our fishermen get wet when they fish, why should you be dry?" It is bonkers

@LoudLimeBeaker are you junior/green? Unless you are, it’s a huge PITA to lose and then have to find, recruit and hire another corporate employee. You’re the best judge of what you can get away with, but if I were you I’d just… not go into the office and work from home, then when queried tell your manager the noise was distracting and you’re more effective at home, or of course if there’s another desk space available you can come in? if you’re valuable enough to them they may not want to lose you over something stupid like this.

I work directly for a union... don't recognise that description at all. Sorry you've had poor experiences.

Union membership can be beneficial but this is an existing issue and most unions won't take those cases - you're expected to have the insurance in place before the car crashes, so to speak.

ACAS can be helpful, I agree.

Oh I haven’t been in a union. Just had to deal with them from the management side occasionally.

I am a union rep.

I would do 2 things. Firstly I would start reporting it to HR or your line manager every time it interferes with your work. Eg if a Teams meeting is disrupted then email your line manager/HR immediately to explain the impact of the disruption every single time.

Secondly ask for an occupational health assessment. If this is causing headaches, stress or anxiety make sure you describe this in the assessment. Emphasise that you are looking for help with solutions.

Encourage your office-mate to do the same.

I'd go down the can't focus on job route before the occupational health one. They might just give her some earplugs.

People saying its fine because the ride operators have to hear it too are missing the point - they are not having to focus on an administrative role and sit in meetings at the same time like the OP! I really hope you can get a move.

Turn off the ambient noise setting on Teams (so it becomes unbearable!) then arrange a Teams call with your boss / HR /OH and show them what it's like.

Turn down a few important meetings and say you can't do Teams calls between X - Y times because of the background noise.

Say you are menopausal and have become very noise sensitive as a result and ask for a reasonable adjustment, sound proofing the office, adjusting hours so more are when the ride isn't running, new office or wfh. Make every request in writing and cc your manager and HR/ OH.

Mention it in every 1:1 with line manager, at every performance review etc, make sure it is documented.

I’d always recommend people join a union, recognised or not. Their role covers much more than turning up to meetings and absolutely essential for worker protection. They can give helpful advice well before an issue reaches a formal stage and a good union rep can help things not get to formal process in the first place.

I’d also never trust a manager who says not to join a union.

I would never make that comment in a professional capacity. However I have seen colleagues completely fucked over with very poor service from unions they’ve paid subs to for decades.

i think often times people who have only worked in unionised environments don’t realise that in most companies absolutely no one is a member of a union.

I’ve worked in the private, public and third sectors, some unionised and some not. I’d always recommend being in a union because it’s always fine, until it’s not, and when things go wrong, you need someone independent from your employer on your side.