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?

I'd find it really hard to have a radio on while work, i do understand where he's coming from.

You're clearly the queen bee of the office and obnoxious to work with. You are definitely not an asset to your employer.

I'm trying to think where music might be acceptable. Perhaps if you work in a shop or the gym. Or you're doing something more manual like working in a warehouse.

Beyond that, if your job involves anything in writing, it is not. Honestly, I'd change jobs if someone played music in my office every day. I work in financial services and I find colleagues on the phone (some have rather braying voices) disrupt my concentration but that's acceptable behaviour.

This reminds me of something which happened years ago. We had someone come work with us for a few months. When they left they gave the office a leaving present, a radio! It went down like a led balloon and was stuck in the cupboard!

Not everyone wants to hear radio noise, so I could compromise and only have it on if he's not there. You can't possibly get work done productively anyway.

You have to wonder how many previous employees HAVE changed jobs rather than challenge the OP, who is clearly dominating and unreasonable. I expect she has lost her employer many workers. They are probably desperately hoping she will go.

Why bother asking this question, OP?

You clearly weren't looking for genuine answers, since c.90% of answers are saying YABU, and told you why.

Hopefully your colleague will soon ask the manager about this, and then the radio will be gone entirely.

She's asking the question because she clearly hates this employee given the number of threads she's started whinging about him.

redraspberry · 06/06/2024 10:23
I feel sorry for you. Must be difficult going through life hating half of the population.

“Men manage, so can women”

Sad. You need to mix with different men.

Op do come back and update if things change.

you are Risking he’s going to complain to your boss though, there’s no business reason to have the radio on (and you liking it isn’t a reason as you could listen via headphones), but if he states he’s less productive with the radio on /can’t concentrate, then there’s a business reason to get rid of it all together. That the previous person in his role didn’t struggle to concentrate with the radio on is irrelevant.

you need to think of a reason to keep the radio on loud, why headphones wouldn’t be just as good, why it benefits the department, not “I like it”.

Tell him to get loop ear plugs they work great for this stuff.