Is it rude

LegacyUser

..to sit with your headphones on in an open plan office?

I can bear to chat with colleagues any more as it does my head in. I'd rather keep the head down, do my time and get home.

So, is it rude? If it is then I'll ditch the headphones and return to the world of idle chat and mindless gossip! Feedback would be great

Eoin

There's no definitive answer; it totally depends on the organisation itself. Very common where I work, and in other IT organisations - but I'm sure it's considered rude/odd in other places.

Timfy

I used to wear headphones in the back office of a large multinational, primarily as I was adverse to the office politics and the "banter" of the primarily female department. (This is not a sexist comment... I just had very little connection with their conversations)

I was made redundant and, when I queried the HR department as to why I was chosen, I was told that I was not a team player and my headphones were mentioned specifically.

Mrs OBumble

OffYouGo wrote: »

..to sit with your headphones on in an open plan office?

I can bear to chat with colleagues any more as it does my head in. I'd rather keep the head down, do my time and get home.

So, is it rude? If it is then I'll ditch the headphones and return to the world of idle chat and mindless gossip! Feedback would be great

Many people believe it is - or that it inhibits people from approaching you about work-issues.

But I wouldn't engage in mindless chat either: refuse to gossip, turn all conversations to work topics, etc.

Nody

OffYouGo wrote: »

..to sit with your headphones on in an open plan office?

In so many words, yes it is. You're seen as trying to avoid social interaction and become more difficult to approach (do I knock you no your shoulder if you don't see me?). It's not something I'd recommend to be honest.

lostboy75

its still something i do on a regular basis though, and dont plan on stopping anytime soon.
it helps me concentrate, by isolating me from the office radio / Random chats going on.
dont wear them for the full day, but about half the day.

krattapopov

I think it depends on the type of place you work and also a balance thing. Even if a lot of people do it, I don't think it should be done all day, an hour here, an hour there, don't abuse it.

LegacyUser

alot of people do wear headphones in my organisation. it's sometimes a requirement for the work we do.

however, i sit in a particularly 'chatty' 'office banter' area and i just don't want to engage in it a) i'm not interested and b) i'd rather concentrate on my work.

I wouldn't like people to think that I'm in a bad mood by having them on. It's just I'd rather not interact with this mindless chat that continues from 9 in the morning 'til 5 when we're heading out the door. Most of it's so ridiculous anyway.

interesting comments - thanks for sharing

Gulliver

Timfy wrote: »

I used to wear headphones in the back office of a large multinational, primarily as I was adverse to the office politics and the "banter" of the primarily female department. (This is not a sexist comment... I just had very little connection with their conversations)

I was made redundant and, when I queried the HR department as to why I was chosen, I was told that I was not a team player and my headphones were mentioned specifically.

This is so typical of Irish workplaces. Join the politics or become the target of it. I would have more time for a person who actually gets the head down to do a bit of work (y'know - that thing they're actually paid to do?) rather than spend time chatting er.. teambuilding.

Mousewar

Open Plan offices...shudder.

There's just no end to the 'banter'.
Last time I worked in one of them I'd stick in headphones that weren't even connected to anything, just so they'd leave me out of the latest 'mad' anecdote.

Frank Black

Gulliver wrote: »

This is so typical of Irish workplaces. Join the politics or become the target of it. I would have more time for a person who actually gets the head down to do a bit of work (y'know - that thing they're actually paid to do?) rather than spend time chatting er.. teambuilding.

The vast majority of work in the modern office environment is team-based. Those who are unable to integrate and work effectively in a team environment are significantly less useful to an Employer - so I can totally see why this was given as a reason behind making someone redundant.

whippet

Openplan offices can be great for sharing information etc ... but It can be downright annoying; recently I had to tell a female colleague to tone down her phone conversations ... it wasn't a nice thing to ask her but in her youthful exuberance she seemed to get louder as the conversation went on and made idle chit-chat with everyone and anyone on the phone (she is in marketing and was on the phone constantly) ... she has quietened down now - but has a little hostility towards me.

If I am working on a large document or under pressure to get something done I put the headphones on .... firstly to drown out noise and secondly as an obvious 'do not disturb' sign.

But to wear headphones constantly just to avoid all office talk and remove yourselves from the rest of the workforce wouldn't be viewed quite well ... it would give the impression that you are only interested in oneself only and as someone else said .. not a team player.

You don't have to actually like your workmates to be polite to them and remember you are only one cog in the wheel of the organisation.

LegacyUser

I integrate with my team perfectly well but sit in the middle of two other teams.

It's not that I can't work effectively because I don't participate in office gossip and weekend banter.. I'm perfectly able to do my job but I don't want to sit around chatting about nonsense all day.

Frank Black wrote: »

The vast majority of work in the modern office environment is team-based. Those who are unable to integrate and work effectively in a team environment are significantly less useful to an Employer - so I can totally see why this was given as a reason behind making someone redundant.

pauliebdub

I wouldnt say rude but i agree that wearing headophones are a bit unsociable and the make the person unapproachable as though they existed in a world of their own cut off from everyone else.

It was quite common in my last workplace, especially if someone was working on a documement and wanted to cut off outside noise distractions. If i wanted his attention i would give a little wave!

nitros7

I too use with my headphones in the office most of the time, generally in order to listen to the radio etc, total isolation is not an option for me so I tend to have the headphones offset so that I have 1 ear free for the phone or chat etc. Still able to listen to the radio and take part in the odd conversation....
I used a single earphone at one stage until they met an early demise in a rather large mug of tea :P

Killgore Trout

I'd be sociable in the office. But when I need peace I put the headphones on. Everyone in my office does it, but there is also good banter at times.

Op if you dislike your colleagues that much you should look into another job. Your contempt for them is going to come across as rude, not the headphones.

Wanderer2010

Not at all OP, you are there to do a job not engage in pointless banter which doesnt serve any useful purpose at all. It does depend on the workplace though- are other workers listening to headphones/minimizing contact etc? If so just go along with it and do your work. If you are an office of chatters then bar looking for a new job you may have to just put up with a certain amount of it and grin and bear it.

I do know what you mean though- I know one poster said you need to get on with workmates in order to do a job but there does come a time, especially if you are there a number of years, where you simply dont care enough to pretend you can tolerate these people and their lives so you shut off, its human nature, everyone has a limit. Good luck OP.

thetoffeeman

Rude? Probably, but if you feel uncomfy in the idle chat world, you might not be as productive, and if it doesnn't hamper your work, go for it. But ask yourself this, can you hear the fire alarm if yr on yr headphones?

LegacyUser

I didn't say I dislike my colleagues. I only said that I couldn't bear the idle chit-chat. As I also pointed out, I don't want to engage in office gossip or invite any unnecessary drama into my life.

I'm social to a point. Then there comes a time when I merely want to get on with work. Like yourself, when I need peace I put the headphones on. Everyone does it. But I do want to be clear that it wasn't being construed as being rude. Off-ish maybe but I'm perfectly pleasant if approached!

Killgore Trout wrote: »

I'd be sociable in the office. But when I need peace I put the headphones on. Everyone in my office does it, but there is also good banter at times.

Op if you dislike your colleagues that much you should look into another job. Your contempt for them is going to come across as rude, not the headphones.

Wanderer2010

Frank Black wrote: »

The vast majority of work in the modern office environment is team-based. Those who are unable to integrate and work effectively in a team environment are significantly less useful to an Employer - so I can totally see why this was given as a reason behind making someone redundant.

Yes but you can work well with others in so far as you work with them, help them out and share info but are not at all interested in them as people or their private life. Sadly this is seen as a reason why a lot of people are let go. If you are bad at your job but love the gossip you have a better chance of staying :rolleyes:

LegacyUser

I totally agree here - I know I'm seen as not 'towing the party line' because I don't go in for the private conversations with hushed voices and little get-togethers at people's desks to talk through all the drama.

I'm just not that interested in my colleagues. (definition of colleague: a person with whom one works in a profession or business). Why is so much emphasis but on whether you like to socialise / hang out with your colleagues? I don't like to sociallise with them, I don't like to gossip with them, I don't like to hang out at people's desks and talk about s**t and there should be NOTHING wrong with that. I'm not saying they're not nice people, I'm only saying I'm not very interested in them, that's all.

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Yes but you can work well with others in so far as you work with them, help them out and share info but are not at all interested in them as people or their private life. Sadly this is seen as a reason why a lot of people are let go. If you are bad at your job but love the gossip you have a better chance of staying :rolleyes:

Fridge

Yeah it seems you're not allowed listen to your own music (or simply put earplugs in as I've done in the past) but you do have to listen to the sh*te that is office radio and other people yammering on. And if you don't like it, you're not a team player. Well what if your team is sh*te? Is it always your fault or could it possibly be that empty vessels make most noise and there's still bloody work to be done?

Stheno

Depends on what the "norm" is, I'd suggest.

I've worked in development environments where people were concentrating and wore headphones all the time, some even used noise blocking ones, and most communication was done via IM/Mail

Other environments, it has been the norm not to wear headphones, and just turn around to interact with colleagues in the room face to face.

Irish_Elect_Eng

As other have said....it depends.

If you do decide to do this build up gradually, let other know that listening to music helps you concentrate and focus on your work and let others know that they can always approach you for work related queries.

Do not cut off the social aspect completely, make sure that you are involved in the chat in the morning, break or evening time, isolating yourself is never a great ideal in a social organisation.

Honey-ec

OffYouGo wrote: »

It's not that I can't work effectively because I don't participate in office gossip and weekend banter.. I'm perfectly able to do my job but I don't want to sit around chatting about nonsense all day.

It's perfectly possible not to "sit around chatting about nonsense" all day without wearing headphones constantly. I work in a large, open plan office and wearing headphones is very much frowned-upon. Obviously, organisations differ in this regard, but the fact that you asked the question in the first place would indicate that you kind of already know that wearing them is not the norm in your workplace.

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

lostboy75

Honey-ec wrote: »

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

dont think that anyone actually said they could not function, that is a bit of a leap, myself i said it "helps" my concentration.

longhalloween

Honey-ec wrote: »

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

In fairness I find it hard to work with noise around me. I can't work with headphones in and if people are talking around me I tend to subconsciously eavesdrop on their conversation distracting me from work.

LegacyUser

Honey-ec wrote: »

would indicate that you kind of already know that wearing them is not the norm in your workplace.

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

a) wearing them is the norm in my workplace,

b) my concentration isn't 'poor'. I can function perfectly well in an open-plan office without wearing headphones.

However, my main point was I don't want to engage with office gossip and is it o.k. to sit with headphones on without it being construed as being rude.

As I read the replies, I'm getting a sense that it's not rude (as it is quite normal in my office) but not to make a habit of it as it does make one withdraw from being in any way slightly approachable and it's also nice to be sociable on the odd occasion too.

whippet

i've been working from home for the last few days .... while I am probably more productive than usual (as in getting a backlog of work done) I am almost out of my mind being in the house on my own ... if only the dog could talk!

My wife usually works from home ... but this week is away .... she said it took her a couple of months to get used to it ... but I reckon I couldn't work like this ... I think I need the noise and the action around me ...

Its probably due to me being more of a social creature when it comes to work .. .while some people are not

mrcheez

As long as you don't get the sound-isolating headphones, and can hear your name being called when required, I don't see an issue.

death1234567

Solution: Just put in one head phone leaving the ear on the side people would approach you on empty.

Ray13

Honey-ec wrote: »

It's perfectly possible not to "sit around chatting about nonsense" all day without wearing headphones constantly. I work in a large, open plan office and wearing headphones is very much frowned-upon. Obviously, organisations differ in this regard, but the fact that you asked the question in the first place would indicate that you kind of already know that wearing them is not the norm in your workplace.

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

I don't think he/she said she literally couldn't function, or 'concentration so poor' rather extreme comment. He/she is being very considerate to check out the norm, so as not to cause any offence.

Aglomerado

I wear headphones also because I hate the idle chit chat about dresses/ babies/ weddings (women) and soccer (men). Some people have voices not meant for indoors too! (I.e. they can be heard in the next county ) I have nothing to contribute to any of these conversations, even if I did want to join in.

Because my work can be quite technical, I really need to tune out this crap and listen to something ambient. My immediate colleagues are mostly sound though and they're allowed to poke me if they need anything! My managers are cool about it also, they even wear them themselves sometimes.

Honey-ec

Ray13 wrote: »

I don't think he/she said she literally couldn't function, or 'concentration so poor' rather extreme comment. He/she is being very considerate to check out the norm, so as not to cause any offence.

I was referring to people in general, as my post quite clearly states.

helimachoptor

I wear them when i need to concentrate on something and dont want to be disturbed half the time i dont even have music playing :pac:

John Mason

i wear earphones all day in work, i have no interest in listening to the gossip gossip or the loon beside me hammering his keyboards

FreeCarAdvice

Honey-ec wrote: »

I was referring to people in general, as my post quite clearly states.

I see, interesting view.

moc moc a moc

Timfy wrote: »

when I queried the HR department as to why I was chosen, I was told that I was not a team player

You'd think a HR department would be more interested in team workers than team players!

beauf

Honey-ec wrote: »

It's perfectly possible not to "sit around chatting about nonsense" all day without wearing headphones constantly. I work in a large, open plan office and wearing headphones is very much frowned-upon. Obviously, organisations differ in this regard, but the fact that you asked the question in the first place would indicate that you kind of already know that wearing them is not the norm in your workplace.

To be honest, I'd also say that if anyone's concentration is so poor that they literally cannot function in an open-plan office without wearing headphones, there's something amiss.

Rather than frowning on it, maybe they should think outside of the box.

Researchers at Finland’s Institute of Occupational Health have studied precisely how far those conversations carry and analyzed their effect on the unwilling listener: a decline of 5 percent to 10 percent on the performance of cognitive tasks requiring efficient use of short-term memory, like reading, writing and other forms of creative work.

“Noise is the most serious problem in the open-plan office, and speech is the most disturbing type of sound because it is directly understood in the brain’s working memory,” said Valtteri Hongisto, an acoustician at the institute. He found that workers were more satisfied and performed better at cognitive tasks when speech sounds were masked by a background noise of a gently burbling brook.

Not everyone is the same. Some like earphones some don't. In IT, especially in development, headphone use is pretty common. Most people have the common sense when to wear them and when not too.