To ask if anyone else struggles in offices?

[ElegantGreenWasp]

I've handed in my notice to move to a community-based role and I have no intention of working in an office again.
Our office days were increased last year from 2 to 3 which made things even worse, things like having no control over the temperature, somebody wants every single window wide open in winter so tough, put your coat on.

We have to sit in our teams, I really struggle having to sit next to the same people 3 times a week. I'm a quiet, introverted person and we have a very high workload, I was put into an established team alone with highly extroverted people and I've struggled. I've had multiple comments about how quiet I am, despite trying to make conversation which unfortunately has made me even more anxious and withdrawn. My manager labelled me as quiet in front of the whole team, I know it's not meant badly but it wasn't nice.
Not supposed to listen to music- if you do put earphones you'll have to take them out multiple times anyway. No concept of quietly working, if someone on the next desk wants to screech loudly with laughter then so be it, nobody seems to say anything. But don't you dare listen to your own music.

Uncomfortable seating, micromanagement, and so on. Maybe I've just been unlucky, does anyone enjoy the office? I feel so much better working at home, I can't see myself ever doing an office role again unless it were just once a week or something.

You're right. I don't have the kind of job you can do from home, but used to work in an office, and everyone I know who still does that type of job says it's much more efficient to work at home, for most people (obviously depends where you live and who with). No one disturbs you talking about Love Island or should they dye their hair, and if they actually want to discuss work, they do call.
And it's nicer for the environment-less traffic on the road! Households can usually share one car. Plus you have more time to organise your life, and can schedule school picks ups etc, depending on the rules.

I don't know what it is about this workplace or team. I used to work in an office call centre role, I didn't mind that as much because we were on the phones all day so there was less social pressure. There was a real mix of personalities too, several people even quieter than me and I don't remember anyone commenting on quietness of people, ever. I had friends there who I still meet up with, I actually left that job for this one as there was no progression there and It was only agency temp work, I do miss it though.

Listening to music via headphones hasn’t ever been standard in an office, not in most places I’d have thought

I think it depends upon what you do, @SilenceInside , it's pretty standard in my job when you are focussing. Headphones on is well understood (and accepted) as a sign that you don't want to be disturbed because you are in the middle of something.

I am 59, began working at 17 and really am proud to say I have never worked in an office.

I therefore have no experience, but @ElegantGreenWasp you articulate your experience so well and have done something about it.

I worked in hospitality and the NHS, people facing, on my feet and active.

Not working in an office environment was a conscious decision I made early on it life. Works for some, not for others.

Good luck going forward. You are free!

I had this too. Being in a crowded office with managers who would shout instructions over my head to their team on the other side of me. It’s very stressful if you need a quieter environment to be able to concentrate. I don’t know why loud people always seem to get their own way but it seems like a thing.

@TheSmallAssassinwhat sort of work do you do, if you don’t mind saying?

Software development. People do get a bit wanky about getting into a "flow state" sometimes. There is plenty of interaction with the rest of the team, but people understand that others need to be left to get on with it too.

That’s interesting as that’s my field too, and I’ve never worked in an office where it was normal for people to have headphones in.

I've worked in many offices in several different industries and don't recognise a working environment like the one you describe. Not all offices are the same. The closest was perhaps in banking/finance but still not the same.
If you've found a role in an environment that suits you better, then by all means crack on and enjoy it.

It really sucks you can’t have headphones/earphones. I work in tech and they are standard for us and most of the businesses I work with. I usually just have 1 in so I can hear what’s going on around me, but it’s enough to drown out the radio 1 on the office radio.

What is the issue with your manager calling on teams without notice? They're your manager, they need an answer. Do you not remember the days of telephones that had to be answered on the third ring, whatever you were doing?

Could you use noise cancelling headphones? I do empathise with the cacophony but we have clear expectations about being mindful of others' needs and noise.

Really, that's interesting. I think it's a pretty standard thing? I quite like a buzzy atmosphere, but if I am really stuck into something I don't want to be distracted. I've got particular projects that are associated with playing the same album over and over again! I can't concentrate at home though.

@TheSmallAssassin I am old and uncool so maybe have worked in quieter office environments. I’ve never been in an office environment I’d describe as buzzy. I’d hate that. The idea of an office radio is hideous. I of course understand about not wanting to be distracted and getting into a flow state, as a programmer. At home, now I WFH full time, I prefer classical music in the background most of the time.

I think it's due to people becoming more selfish and having a lack of consideration for others.

There are no longer high standards of behaviour in offices. People feel that they ought to be allowed to behave as they do at home, with no regard for the people around them.

Do they need an answer immediately though? I would never call someone on Teams without sending them a message first. I'd normally say "Are you free for a chat", wait for the like and then ring. Things work better if you don't interrupt someone in the middle of something and I rarely need to talk to someone right this second. In the past, we couldn't do that, now we can.

@SilenceInside I am old and uncool too, been doing this for over 25 years! When I say buzzy, I don't mean having the radio on, just people having conversations. Some of the people in our organisation want to work in complete silence, which is fair enough, and there are areas they can do that, but that would drive me bonkers.

I disliked working in a busy office.

When I was younger it was fun with the social side (which is how I met my OH) but as I got older I began to hate it and my happiest time was when I managed to arrange a transfer to an office where I was mostly on my own. Occasionally someone would come to me for training and of course there were meetings, training courses etc but for the majority of the time I was alone (and very happy).
Building closures meant I had to return to the main office where I made the best of it (headphones and the ability to stream radio through my PC were a godsend) but then COVID hit and I had two very happy years WFH.
A new office move loomed and there was talk of moving into a new, larger office so I jumped ship and (happily) retired at 57.

office if i had my own section because yes i talk loud and id end up competing with other talkers so prefer my own cubicle that's isolated, however to keep up with company whats what etc and the gossip then i prefer to be in the middle of it all,