Male co-worker keeps turning our office radio down

[user1471867483]

I've been in my office job now for 9 years, my other co-worker 4 years and another 15 years. A male co-worker joined 18 months ago. We always have the radio on. However, a few weeks ago, when I wasn't there, he told my co-worker that he wanted the radio moved away from him, so she moved it closer to us. Now, today, I went to the toilet, came back, and the radio was turned down by him (my co-worker was present). She emailed me to say he turned it down as it was getting on his nerves. Ten minutes later I turned it back up again (as I am not allowing the newest one in the office taking over). Our boss allows us to have the radio and has done all these years. My co-worker said I'm ballsy to turn it up again, but why shouldn't I? He's the second newest in fgs. Was I wrong to turn it back up or something?

You weren't wrong, but this isn't likely to end well.

Yes, get yourself some headphones.

Getting your work done trumps listening to the radio. Something disruptive like a radio only gets to happen if all present want it to. If it interferes with anyone doing their work, it goes.

Can he wear loop plugs or ear plugs something like that?

I couldn’t work with the radio on. Surely everyone sharing an office space needs to compromise on stuff like temperature, noise etc?

I would hate to be trapped all day listening to someone else's choice of radio at what I found and obnoxious volume.

You are my nightmare workmate but to be fair I have ADHD.

Listen to your own music with headphones.

I think a radio is OK if you're doing something physical like gardening or painting but not for office work.

I'd really, really struggle to concentrate.

Yabu also for claiming some kind of hierarchical superiority for being there longer. "He's the second newest in fgs" - he still has to be able to concentrate to work, doesn't he?

I often turn down the radio at work. Or even just turn it off

I'm female if it matters

I know it's difficult because you've always had the radio on; but honestly very few people would tolerate having the radio on all day long. You need to approach this nicely; maybe ask him if you can have it on for an hour every day or something like that.

YABU

You're being selfish.

He can wear noise cancelling headphones and you and your other colleagues can enjoy the radio.

I would absolutely hate to have to listen to the radio all day, I wouldn't be able to focus. Get some headphones if your want background noise.

I used to work with someone like you, you were bloody annoying.

No one needs radio on to work, it's distracting.

Maybe the OP’s male colleague is turning it off with his penis?

I would also hate the radio blasting out in the office. Why should someone have to suffer that just because they are new.
I agree with previous posters you should get some headphones

I work in an office and I find it strange to not have the radio on, unless it's full blast it shouldn't affect people getting their work done.

Honestly just get headphones and listen to your own music. Radios at work often cause annoyance. Your employer is meant to pay PRS to have a radio on, which they probably don't or wont want to. It's not conducive to productive work to have an unnecessarily loud radio playing all the time.

Agree with all the people saying that if he finds it distracting then it needs to be off. Him getting his work done is more important.

YABU. It's obviously too loud for him so you need to respect that. He might well have sensory issues so you should be more respectful and sensitive to his needs.

I work in an office and the radio on would drive me nuts. If you want music, wear headphones

I think seniority / pulling rank applies only in work-based decisions and not the radio volume

I sometimes have Alexa playing when I wfh but I choose the music. In the office it would do my head in having some shite music playing whilst I was trying to work.