And doubling down on what you said- people who come to IT peoples desks to interrupt them jump the queue-i was doing a business critical task for a VP yesterday that i had to stop to attend to someone who had an urgent luxury problem at my desk. Review a 1987 OSHA memo on music headphones. I also am befuddled by the earphones vs. earbuds difference. Some people find that listening to music can help to minimize outside distractions such as other employee conversations, which helps them stay productive. I dont think that I would immediately jump to Oh it must be a female-anatomy related issue if someone didnt want to get into the details of their medical care with me. Suffer in silence. Sometimes people need to remember they are at Work. Boss never asked anyone else for their assessment of my work (like, maybe, the end users?!) Without music it does not completely eliminate all sound but it blocks most ambient noise and it greatly reduces my anxiety/distraction. It makes it hard to focus and easier for folks to interrupt you with non-sequitors or generally disrespect your time/lunch breaks. The solution is to learn to manage your feelings of being unnerved. The best thing you can do is be patient, and offer nonjudgmental support if appropriate. And I work in Finance, not IT.). ~SM7E~Uy If its no big deal and HR was all meh managers call, sorry dude. then its just one of those things. At least headphones or earbuds can provide background noise to drown it all out or at least give the brain something else to focus on, like music, and I see no reason unless you are an in person customer facing employee (like at the DMV) that you shouldnt be able to use this method to cope. I dont care if someone is listening with headphones or not, I just start talking. Not a single adult in the world. Not so much. Sorry, should have been clearer. Its reeks of petty power trip honestly. Yes. The LW writing in about a direct report wearing headphones didnt articulate a reason for the rule, just a preference. ticketed support system = no headphones or earbuds, you need to be interruptible at all times. But as employee I wouldnt waste whining to HR about this. Off with them!. There are days where I am unable to focus on my work at all without my noise cancelling headphones because of sensory overload. Please note: The answer is correct at the time of publishing. But the LW may not be crazy to want to ban big headphones but not earbuds, depending on the details of the job. Thats why they have rules for which companies are required to accommodate the leave, you have more than 50 employees so you should be able to figure out coverage issues. Colleagues used to walk up to my desk and if I was concentrating and I didnt see them, I wouldnt know they were there. Even the ones that come with small sizing are often too big, and wearing them makes my ears hurt after a half hour or so. The completion and signing is able manually or via a trusted solution e. g. PDFfiller. OP given the extreme behavior of the employee when you reminded them of your discussion (made a beeline to HR), what is their reaction to being interrupted? It is possible that wearing either type of headphones in a noisy environment can exacerbate hearing loss. The headphone thing seems a bit much and not something I would push if you want to keep otherwise good employees around. I dont know if Id characterize OP as acting spoiled but it sounds a bonkers reason to decline an offer you really want. All are excellent points. Noise is at levels requiring hearing protection - 85 decibels or more for an eight-hour day 2. Most places Ive been that had a ticket system *also* utilized some level of phone support. This means theyre all going to need that moment of transitioning their attention/finishing a line or thought, or some people might be so focused it takes them a moment to acknowledge the sudden white noise in the background is actually someone talking to THEM and not just background noise. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write a policy for mobile phones in the workplace: 1. I wear headphones not earbuds. When you work on an open plan, noisy floor you may actually run into some coworkers who need some help blocking out all the distractions so they may better get their work done. employers usually. Lost password? I call mine coworker-cancelling headphones. Abusers are manipulative and they are good at controlling their partners, thats what lead to this situation in the first place. << /Type /Page /Parent 1 0 R /LastModified (D:20230501182614+00'00') /Resources 2 0 R /MediaBox [0.000000 0.000000 612.000000 792.000000] /CropBox [0.000000 0.000000 612.000000 792.000000] /BleedBox [0.000000 0.000000 612.000000 792.000000] /TrimBox [0.000000 0.000000 612.000000 792.000000] /ArtBox [0.000000 0.000000 612.000000 792.000000] /Contents 10 0 R /Rotate 0 /Group << /Type /Group /S /Transparency /CS /DeviceRGB >> /Annots [ 6 0 R ] /PZ 1 >> Telling employees not to wear headphones I have two IT employees who like to wear headphones, not earbuds, at their desks during business hours. If you require deep concentration, try listening to ambient sounds. It is not immature to want to be ablee to focus on your work. Team: H! Every letter posted here is one side of a story and we all have to deal with the fact that were not going to get more information. When someone is wearing headphones at my work, I gently wave at the side of them to get their attention without touching them or scaring them. Now earbuds are wireless and even easier to use. He rule her rules. Boeing employees have a new rule to follow while working: No more headphones. JENNIFER!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I dont like how you look when you work, and also, I resent the 2-second wait I have to do to get your attention when youre working on something. Something besides earbuds was going on between this employee and boss. The wailing and gnashing of teeth over headphones is kind of mind boggling to me. Headphones can impede organic collaboration. So much of my bandwidth is going to trying to block noise or being constantly unnerved by it that I make mistakes and my productivity suffers. When the police arrived, the mans portable player was still playing music next to his body. Im sympathetic, but the manager could deal more constructively with his/her anxiety. So not a medical issue. I stand by what I said, based on the information provided. He stated there wasnt a company policy about it. And if said employee ran to HR rather than discuss the situation with me, I would also (again) wonder why. I am on the spectrum, and I dont know whether my distractability from people talking around me is due to that or just bc, but I have been considering purchasing a pair. Presumably, there would be a period of acknowledgement required before responding if the techies were interrupted while wearing earbuds. Hopefully, it isnt anything like that, maybe they are asking you to track to justify a new headcount since you are working so hard! People were expected to do so in order for us to track inquiries and keep appropriate staffing levels. I think this a problem generally in corporate America today: We see the boss as the person who has to have all the answers and make all the decisions, and their team members as the worker bees who get told what to do. Oddly enough, I prefer earbuds (only certain types, though) comfortable and headphones uncomfortable. Frankly many of the at-home exercises are the same as what I used to do for my lower back. With regards to #4, I have been in the position of knowing people who have gotten Dr. notes and they are extremely, purposefully vague, along the lines of: So and so had an appointment at my office, on Date/Time, she/he is cleared for return to work So no need to worry about your Dr. outing you. But they are also more difficult for the visitor to notice when s/he walks up and starts talking. I never got anywhere near mentioning female anatomy. Set the rule either they can wear neither, or either, but choosing which style someone else should use is ridiculous. No food or drink at the desk? If you choose to purchase earbuds, try to make sure they are noticeable, or consider adding a sign to your office door, computer, or workspace to let people know you are wearing headphones. Folks are very focused on but some people need them. Thats true, but most people dont. Create a clear policy about headphones and ensure the rules apply to everyone. The unspoken rule was obviously to be respectful by not turning it up to 11 and to take headphones out when someone came up to your cube or called. I find this unnerving when I approach either of them and have to wait how does this issue not arise with someone wearing earbuds? employees who like to wear headphones, not earbuds, at their desks during business hours. Managers are obligated to manage themselves first in order to manage others well. I think the letter writer is hoping for exactly the opposite of this. 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They may have an ADA accommodation that was approved. Honestly this is the first comment of hers that Ive seen that could even remotely be considered rude. So, Im not surprised that the manager was then surprised by an employee who made a passive aggressive challenge to the rule without attempting a professional conversation. I find this unnerving when I approach either of them and have to wait, and suspect many of my users may feel the same. 10 0 obj Theres no company anything about it. It is up to the manager to deal with performance issues that concern their employees; if they are using their productivity resources appropriately, no issues should result from simple headphone usage. Its on you to explain that the shape of your ear canal precludes you from using earphones though. Its not when the company rule is that headphones are fine. Listening devices for personal use are not. The cell phone company policymay also be referred to as a no mobile phones at work policy or a bring your own device(BYOD) policy. He may have challenges that you cant see. If all the headphones disappeared tomorrow the economy is not going to come to a grinding halt. Its gotten better but most of my IT needs are because my computer is in such bad shape that I cant even use the online ticket systemforcing me to see IT in person. Eh, my husband has ADHD and earbuds help him focus on his work. If this is the hill you want to die on, you have to ban headphones across the board. EXACTLY! Policy brief & purpose Requiring me to use earbuds would mean that I need to remove my hearing aid. Offices are not natural in any way whatsoever, and its ableist and infantalizing to call my ability to cover my ears is a perk. Disagree. Choose music that will increase your productivity, not hinder it. Louder noises and lyrics are distracting when you need to solve a problem, but moderate ambient noise can enhance your performance. And is a red flag that would make me wary of deeper issues. That is quite a long time for an email when youre raring to go. (Such as unresponsive IT or intimidated users who avoid the helpdesk and then try to fix things themselves. I think the headphones/ear buds at work thing is something that has changed somewhat rapidly, and in the last 3-5 years. I have ear issues, I cannot use ear buds. But, I feel both are wrong in this scenario (while also believing the scenario should never exist in the first place). I find them necessary for sanity around here. The no headphones at work policy sample is a writable document that has to be filled-out and signed for specific purposes. #4 If I were told Its a private medical issue and I dont wish to discuss it, I would absolutely not jump immediately to the conclusion that it was pelvic floor therapy. However, major safety authorities like the Occupational Safety and Health . Last summer I had an intern who wore giant (think dj at a turntable) headphones all the time after specifically being told not to. Same here I cannot wear earbuds for more than 5 minutes without significant pain due to my apparently smaller than average ear holes. so many people will start having neck and hand issues from the poor ergonomics of laptops. But I love mine and they have helped me a lot. We dont have enough information to say with certainty which. But without clear guidelines or a headphone policy at work, employees are left to decipher best practices on their own. In 2017, a man in Michigan was walking on the train tracks while listening to music through headphones. (P.S. Earbuds can also raise ear wax accumulation, cause ear infections, gather dirt and bacteria, give birth to germs and make your eardrums burst even if theyd feel completely comfortable. I dont have any better advice to offer than Alison has already given, but I just wanted to let you know you arent alone. Then we can have a great debate when a manager starts with we dont have a policy to keep the door open but I prefer it, it unnerves me with closed doors and knocking vs just entering, etc. I would assume that most people who wear headphones/earbuds use them for that purpose. I dont think so. Even if Im not wearing earbuds, I might be reading something or in a state of deep focus while writing/thinking and it takes me a few seconds to transition out of that state anyways. Oh yes. HR is always the right place to go for this kind of issue. And thats bad enough. Working remotely, Jordan spends half of the year exploring different corners of the world. You cannot use the well my job says no headphones and Im fine, so whats your deal, man? Thats not how the world works. I am not out as autistic at work. I put on my noise cancelling headphones. They help people get into a groove, and they send a clear sign to others that youre busy. All comments are moderated before being published, On orders $10 or more within the continental US, Our store is PCI compliant to keep your info safe. Ive never been quite sure whether thats more of a thats how my managers treat me, so I give advice to other people based on the assumption that its how the working world works everywhere thing or a thats how I treat my direct reports, because I think thats the right way to be thing. Then the annoying screamer person might have enough sense to say to themselves, Ah, Jennifer is wearing headphones. A good manager would have explained it up front, but since they didnt, you are you going to have to ask. and I had no idea he had that backdoor distorted-information channel going on. Our management has the same reasoning you do, and say that we shouldnt feel entitled not to be interrupted at any time for a question from anyone, which is super frustrating. But how many internal users are just approaching IT with an issue? If I went to HR in a circumstance like this one and my manager openly violated our non-retaliation policy in response, I would call the corporate ethics line and report the violation. They dont generally do in-person support. It should be totally normal to just not specify and be taken at ones word that its a medical thing but, you know, dont worry Im not dying. Oooooh I know I shouldnt pick up on spelling, but the idea of hiring a Dead employee would unnerve me too! In many situations, companies have been found liable for employees who were making business-related phone calls or text messages while behind the wheel. This is tantamount to telling someone to change their clothing in the middle of the day. There would be a mutiny and certainly an ouster of the CIO. (Which again, we have no information about). If you need her to stop oversharing in the office which you can totally do you need to tell her that. Additionally, I physically cant wear earbuds and if my boss suddenly demanded that I wear earbuds and not headphones I wouldnt know what to do. Blunt? There are robust methods of self-diagnosis, for instance I self-diagnosed in 2012 and obtained a formal diagnosis in 2018. New safety measures implemented later . Yeah, at my workplace the IT staff I interact with most are the front-facing help desk, so my first reaction was Sure, of course they cant wear headphones!. According to Anne Kreamer, former executive vice president for . They help others see that youre busy and prevent communication confusion. I was speaking to the tons of people in this comment section acting like noise in an office is a brand new phenomena and there is clearly no way to get work done without headphones. Its what Ive okd for my team. Wed like to offer you this position, and well send over an offer letter for you to look at. THEN its a two-week waiting period. OP needs to BUTT OUT. Its actively awful. Come on, its a little rich to be rude to another person when youre referring to someones supposed trend of rude comments. Man all this talk of headphones makes me wish Id brought mine, but Im more or less on the verge of phasing out earbuds cause of a skin condition in my ears ): That aside, Im not sure why OP didnt outright rule both outside of phone calls (unless OP prefers they use speaker or the handheld). If there are work issues address those within the confines allowed with FMLA. I use my AirPods and dial in for audio-only calls, because Im reasonably sure my coworker would be annoyed by listening to the Q2 Sales Forecasting call over my computer speakers. Just anecdotally, this is not at all true ime. U/G. Like no one is saying you CANT put a table together with a manual screwdriver but a powered one is better. I believe I understand your point about headphones being a productivity tool, but for some positions its not an option and those people still get work done, so sorry, it seems to me like if youre allowed to use a productivity tool that others arent (minus if that reason is for an accommodation), then it is indeed a perk. Regardless, the main point of putting anything in or over my ears is to block out the noise of my coworkers (foot tapping, pen tapping, pen clicking, paper shuffling, conversations between coworkers, phone conversationssomeone is beatboxing right now, Im not even joking) so I can actually concentrate on my work. I7f (X0NRscWcoRv!7x)(I+_RXNaEZ6bsHLDtbbDkWU"J+;GWv(@DLq&Y)4e-"wQrugl`}e/qPUo(CO,6[O}m*d7U,} XB[lu\ ]F8:,tl`Qkx2 It is entirely possible to be productive in an office with noise around you and Im a little taken aback that people seem to think that headphones are natural part of the office when in fact they are a perk. Also, if you are facing away from the entrance to your office/cube and have headphones in, Im sure its very difficult to get your attention, so Id prefer to use one earbud in that case. Huh, count me as another one who would think that the point of a ticket system is that it routes through the system so you DONT have to go down to IT and chat with the IT guy. My coworkers know that if they need my attention, they should do one or some combination of the following: Wave in my line of vision (but NOT close to my face). I wanted to reply to this. My only exception is if theyre literally a help desk. Talk about making employees so miserable they want to leave. Further, even without earbuds, workers must not be on their smartphones while performing work or near any operating equipment. A heads-up on Slack that theyre dropping by in a few to touch base about XYZ? www.ehstoday.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Its not about adult vs. not adult. n;H, Im confused about that too. It wasnt two weeks between interview and job offer, it was two weeks between informal job offer and offer letter. They pull you into another world to help you focus on important work. Maybe I read the question wrong. Match the task to the music. This just means people might be stuck standing there awkwardly for a minute or so regardless. Let people find what works for them. Just something I need to take care of seems exactly right to me. This is not a hill to die on. Im an earbud wearer, and often have people come up to talk to me. Forget the headphones, I want to know what the expectations are if the employee is working on support issues A, B, and C and someone approaches them about support issue D. Are they expected to drop A, B, and C and start working on D? yes, as an IT employee, the real issue is why are there so many people coming to the desk when things like IM and ticketing exist. I still have to adjust it when someone comes in to chat. Also, what exactly is the difference between waiting for someone to take off earphones and waiting for someone to pull out an earbud? I would not make this a rule. We respond to dispatch calls and someone running up to an ambulance screaming that they have an emergency is going to be firmly told to call 911. Excessive use of mobile phones is having a negative effect on organizational productivity and has led to increased errors. The pattern that I expect is something more like expecting and sometimes supporting highly autocratic behavior on the part of managers Boss is Boss and you better obey Boss instantly without any backtalk because Boss will have you out on your ear if you give them any sass but basically yeah. On the outside it seems obvious to everyone else that she should just LEAVE, and it can be mind boggling why shed still want to talk to him.its something that is impossible to understand until youve been through it. People are different from each other and have different needs and abilities. Different people have different work, different work requirements, and different work styles. Im glad you left. If theyre allowed to wear earphones, they should be allowed to wear headphones. Yep! Disconnect unused devices from the headphones. Instead, we promise a fun weekly roundup of our latest blog posts and great finds from across the web. I am EMPHATICALLY opposed to open office spaces. This is a pretty clear case of a manager shifting the onus for their uncomfortable feelings to their employee instead of handling it themselves. Please elaborate on how them using earbuds instead of headphones solves this issue. ), OP#4: Hands up here as another member of the needing regular physical therapy for pelvic floor issues club. That is what I would do if I had HR and I felt my boss was trying to take away a necessary tool for me to work for no reason other than what he likes to look at. When it comes to headphone please alway either go for all or nothing. I hope you can find something that helps you. Instead, we promise a fun weeklyroundup of our latest blog posts and greatfinds from across the web. Im also not bluffing. Can we please stop assuming that this is generational, especially after so many people have told you that earbuds cause them pain (and I am another on that list, they are excruciatingly painful right up until the moment they fall out). Came here to say this; earbuds are far, far worse than headphones, because they still cant hear, but people cant see that they cant hear. Im an admin rather than IT support but Ive had to watch HSE videos, user guide videos and listen to podcasts related to our project. Headphones over my hearing aids is the only thing I can do when I want to block out outside noises and concentrate. No five second wait while they pull out their earbuds or take off their headset. There are a couple of problems with this line of thinking: -Someone who needs headphones due to a medical condition often doesnt look any different from their peers. I literally cant put earbuds in my ears for any length of time without irritation. You have two completely separate problems here. and then go to HR (??????!?!?!!? every. I actually have a bunch of ADHD students who would disagree. Louder noises and lyrics are distracting when you need to solve a problem, but moderate, How to Implement Headphones and Earbuds in the Workplace Policy, Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Office Environments, Keep in mind that in an open office environment, noticeable headphones can be an asset. What are we missing? It just wasnt one he agreed with. Look through the comments. Like, have you heard that perception from anybody else? Most people would say Oh sorry, I didnt realize you meant for this change right away.
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