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Original poster

music in the office

25 replies

feedme · 21/01/2011 16:12

I work in a small office part time. We all get on very well, and I enjoy my work. Recently, my job has changed so that I'm now focussing on researching an area from scratch. The problem is that they have the radio on and I can't concentrate. There isn't anywhere else I can conveniently work in the building. Two of the women are fine about not having it on, but one is obviously irritated and I think we're heading for a run-in about it.
I'm not putting this in the AIBU section, as I'm sure some people will think I'm unreasonable, but what I want to know is whether I'm behaving inappropriatley in this situation, in asking them if they could turn the radio off.

OP posts:

GwendolineMaryLacey · 21/01/2011 16:14

If the vote is 3 to 1 against then she should turn it off, ignorant and rude not to. Let her wear headphones if she really wants it on. I do this if I'm doing something mundane.

I know you didn't ask but YANBU

Ragwort · 21/01/2011 16:14

Personally I would find it completely unprofessional and out of order to have a radio on whilst you are working - but it is obviously a very delicate situation if you are working in a small office - can you suggest you work from home to do your research?

Has the radio always been on? (which station - just being nosey ?)

Original poster

feedme · 21/01/2011 16:19

Radio 1 or 2 Ragwort
thanks for your responses,it's just that I'm the newest and don't want to be a PITA.

OP posts:

SoMuchToBits · 21/01/2011 16:22

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Surely the person who wants music could listen using headphones?

scurryfunge · 21/01/2011 16:25

I had this very issue. One bloke was insistent that the radio be on every time we were in the office and at quite a high volume too. It used to drive me nuts. It distracted me no end and I felt it was unprofessional.

We did have a falling out over it and luckily our supervisor came down on the side of "you are here to work" thankfully.

We have a tv/radio in our rest room so he could use them on breaks if he really had to.

BecauseItoldYouSo · 21/01/2011 16:26

Is the person who wants the radio on in a superior position to you? If so it may cause problems to shut it off and better to just put up with it.

Original poster

feedme · 21/01/2011 16:29

no Because, luckily not

OP posts:

Spidermama · 21/01/2011 16:31

I would wear ear plugs if i were you. We have the radio on at work but then we have to because I work at a radio station.

I do find it hard to concentrate though especially when the music is really shit which it so often is.

cat64 · 21/01/2011 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

feedme · 21/01/2011 16:36

well I did try to cut it out by putting some really bland music on my Ipod and listening to it with headphones but I just can't think about what I'm doing with any music on, plus I could still hear her music, plus I was really pissed off. Hence the email. I just want to make sure that I'm not letting my irritation make me act unprofessionally.

OP posts:

PurpleKate · 21/01/2011 20:31

In the UK you usually need a licence to play copyrighted music in public. So, it may be that your company needs a license to play music in the office.

Here is a link to PRS which might help explain this - www.prsformusic.com/users/businessesandliveevents/musicforbusinesses/Pages/doineedalicence.aspx

Can you approach your manager with the legal position instead?

ModreB · 22/01/2011 10:31

We have a radio on at work every day, and dont find it distracting at all. (And we have a licence!)

Can you compromise, say have the radio on until noon then switch it off for the rest of the day?

KatieMiddleton · 23/01/2011 02:41

You emailed her about it?

That's a really bad idea. Anything contentious is always better discussed in person or by phone. Written communication has a horrible way of landing the wrong way sometimes.

Can you agree to a period when it will be on (maybe your lunch break/first last thing in the morning) as a compromise?

If this was my business anything that gets in the way of work would be banned and things that make the day a little more bearable encourage but the priority would go to the first principle were there a difference of opinion.

Tortington · 23/01/2011 02:47

yes i was going to mention PRS as well. there is an issue of legality here.

also wearing ear plugs would contravene H&S with regards to hearing fire alarms and such.

Original poster

feedme · 23/01/2011 13:56

no, I didn't email her (that would be weird) I meant the email I posted here. Thanks to everybody for their comments, it's been useful. In a long working life, I've never worked with music on in the office and, perhaps because I'm getting on, I just can't concentrate with it on. I know there will be people who feel the same way (or not) about this, but what I wanted to know was whether it was unprofessional for me to ask to have it off.
thanks again to everybody who's given me their thoughts on this.

OP posts:

KatieMiddleton · 23/01/2011 22:46

Ah I misunderstood. I think it's weird to email when you can talk about ishoos... but lots of people think that's effective communcation

said · 23/01/2011 22:53

Radio 1

TmiEdward · 23/01/2011 22:57

Good idea about the time compromise.
Turn Radio 2 off at Midday when Jeremy Vine and his posse of Daily Mail readers callers come on air.

DuelingFanjo · 23/01/2011 22:58

if you are new I think YABU.

said · 23/01/2011 23:03

What kind of work is it that you're all doing? I could not be in the same room as Radio 1 but especially not if you need to research a new area

Original poster

feedme · 24/01/2011 07:44

I'm researching. I seriously understand Dueling's opinion and, in theory, agree about the idea of time compromise, except that it's not that I don't like the music (I don't, but when I was doing a job in the same office that required less concentration I didn't say anything about it being on) it's that I can't do my present work with it on. Sorry if this makes me sound precious.

OP posts:

PurpleKate · 24/01/2011 19:38

FWIW if I was in your shoes @feedme I would complain to my manager. In fact I have done exactly that in the past.

I work in IT and I find it almost impossible to concentrate with lots of chatting people and music. So I have said things when noise levels have reached an unacceptable level. It all subjective really, but my view is that if other people want music on, then they should be using headphones, not me.

Have you tried approaching your boss yet?

Original poster

feedme · 24/01/2011 21:18

well...the boss is married to the person who wants the music on

OP posts:

said · 24/01/2011 22:17

PurpleKate · 25/01/2011 08:42

umm. Earplugs it is then.

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