Music in the office driving me mad

[TheJungleBook]

Hi all,

When I was reoffered my old job, my boss said “if we’re giving you that amount of money, we’ll want you in the office 3 days per week”, and I said “no thank you”, because it is such a disruptive office environment with sales people talking and loud music on - not classical music, but pop/rock/rave music. My job involves quantitative and qualitative market research and writing, which requires a good level of concentration. I knew I would get next to no work done if I was in the office 3 days a week. Anyway, my boss came back 24 hours later and said “okay we’ll accept it if you come in the office 1 day a week”. I now basically get no work done on the day that I’m in the office. At my old very corporate job, I was in the office three days a week but I could actually get work done because it was quiet and peaceful.

What is the consensus on music in the office? The company, which is a small business, is trying to position itself as more corporate, however having Sia’s Cheap Thrills booming out doesn’t really set the right mood. I’ve sent an email asking to be relocated to a private quiet office or for the music to be turned off, and I haven’t received a response.

Noise cancelling headphones?

Yes this

Maybe whoever is imposing the music on everyone should be the one wearing the headphones.

I feel for you OP. This would be my worst nightmare. I wouldn't get anything done under those conditions either.

I already wear earplugs actually 🤣🤣

@msbevvy thank you for your sympathy

It’s bloody awful. People who want to listen to music should wear headphones not blast it out, must make the atmosphere impossible

I've never worked in an office where you have music playing, very odd.

Maybe go in on a Friday? If you're office is anything like mine, no one will be there!

Have they got a PPL/PRS licence? Perhaps you could tip them off if not (they like to do unannounced visits.

And headphones are not the answer. I am unable to wear headphones. They make me extremely uncomfortable.

I have never worked in an office with music blasting either. In my last office many of use wore headphones and had our own music on when we were doing certain tasks. And a previous office we would have the radio on quietly, but it was only 2 of us, and if either wanted it off that would happen.

Definitely go in on a Friday, that's me and my colleague's "getting stuff done" day because everybody else WFH. We go in early, ignore each other all day in lovely silence then clock off for the weekend feeling pleased with ourselves. Recommended!

@Comefromaway I don’t know actually, I was thinking about that 😂

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people in on Friday, so the music would be the same.

Miserable sod.

@TheJungleBook it sounds like you’ve asked for a reasonable adjustment to be moved to a quiet area/office, hopefully they’ll understand.

Music people should have the headphones, can also drown out office dogs but that is whole other tail

What is their reasoning for making you come in? It can’t be anything to do with productivity. It’s bullshit you should be allowed to WFH if no performance difference.

I worked in an office where they had the radio on. All the inane drivel and the adverts drove me more nuts than the music. Luckily the manager did agree to turn it off occasionally for a morning or afternoon. Could you ask for it to be off on your day each week?

I can’t stand music in an office setting. I’ve worked in factories and in those settings I massively appreciated it because factory work is so dull. But in the office jobs I have done, I need to concentrate and I find that hard with music on. I had to get used to it in some places when I temped in my 20s though, and eventually you do tend to tune it out.

Music in the office would be a total no-no for me.

Unless it was low, non intrusive and there was 100% agreement.

Did you explain why you didn’t want to do 3 days in the office? Say you will do 3 days if you get a quiet space? I.e make it worth their while to make more compromise for you. They already rowed back to one day in the office.

No, I'm not a miserable sod. Artists deserve to be paid for their work and PRS for Music are the organisation that collects royalties.

Have they got a PPL/PRS licence? Perhaps you could tip them off if not (they like to do unannounced visits.
People aren't stupid. They will know they've been tipped off.

I hate the radio on at work bit I don't expect people to change to suit me. They had the radio on before I went there so it's my problem to deal with it.

I find quiet spaces. Hopefully ops management will do the same.

They phone/turn up at our place at least once every year

I’m the opposite, I’ve worked in offices that were like morgues. I hate the sterile, quiet and the dirty looks of you cough or ask if anyone wants a drink if you’re going to the kitchen. I used to play music through headphones but got told off for that as “I wouldn’t hear the fire alarm” 🙄.
I cannot work in dead silence, I just can’t it’s so uncomfortable. I did used to work for a funeral director and played music at a quiet volume as long as there were no families for viewing/arrangements. I was on my own all the time though so no one knew. I used to do a lot of my OU work too (with the owners express permission).

@TheJungleBook does your employer have a licence to play the radio? i think the office might be classed as a public place but dont quote me on that! whose radio is it??