Using earphones in work

radiotrickster

Hi all,

Just looking for an opinion! My colleagues in work all have radios in their offices or computers with speakers to play the radio from. I'm an admin worker in an office alone and have neither.

I'd buy a radio if I had to but for the past few months, I've just stuck my earphones in and listened to podcasts and music when I felt like it. I can go hours without anyone coming into the office and it can be very quiet and a bit boring, although people might look into the office as they walk past.

My colleagues (in different offices) have told me I shouldn't do this as it'll annoy our manager. One told me it's for health and safety reasons "as you can't hear if something is about to fall on your head."

The thing is, I genuinely work better with some background noise. Silence is too distracting and I can never fully concentrate in it. I end up reaching for my phone, where as the background music actually keeps me focused.

I don't thinking listening to music through earphones is different to listening through a speaker or radio. I'm not sure my manager has noticed me wearing earphones but if they have, they never said anything.

Most of my work is impossible to do wrong - basics like filing, photocopying, etc.

So would a low-grade admin worker wearing earphones be a no-go?

Queasy Tadpole

Are you required to be on the phone? If not then there should be no issue whatsoever with earphones.

messrs

Would you still be able to hear the fire alarm if it were to go off? Other than that cant see any reason for you not to use them - unless as previous poster mentioned about been required to be on the phone.

radiotrickster

Queasy Tadpole wrote: »

Are you required to be on the phone? If not then there should be no issue whatsoever with earphones.

I'd get two or three calls an hour but I wouldn't be at risk of missing one from not hearing it. I've never liked my earphones loud even outside of work, so they're usually at max 50% volume. The phone ringer is loud and it has a red light that flashes when it rings as well!

And about the fire alarms: we have a fire drill twice a week so I know for certain that my earphones wouldn't come close to masking the noise!

Tork

I worked in an office where we did a lot of solitary work. Headphones were worn by just about everyone in there. It wasn't a problem. If you wanted to talk to someone, they'd just take the headphones off and there wasn't any problem.

The only problem I see arising is if you pumped the music up so loud you wouldn't hear the phone or other colleagues who come to talk to you.

niallers1

Headphones are normal now as people make calls through them. In our company you could be on a call or on a podcast or listening to music. As long as the work is done who cares.


The people who say it's a problem don't have a clue, don't listen to them. Work is about outcomes. not just looking like you are doing work. As long as the work is done then there should be no issue as long as you are not wearing them walking through a warehouse where you need to be able to hear forklifts and pallet trucks etc.

I wear noise cancelling headphones for the full work day even when working from home, I would struggle badly to concentrate on work without having music playing and drowning out background noise. I work in an area where I have to think a lot, problem solve etc also but music does not stop this, it helps in fact. They are Bluetooth so I can walk around with them on while listening to music or on calls.

I take all my video calls etc on the headphones also.

Rikand

Are they the kind of earphones where you can have one earbud in one ear and the other one left dangling. That way you can still hear your music and the other ear is perfectly exposed for hearing anything else going on in the office.

I have worked with someone in an admin office who always wore their headphones listening to music on their phone when they worked. It was very annoying when you needed to ask them something because they were just unreachable. Their deskphone lit up though when they had an incoming call, so that wasnt a problem. Just if you needed to verbally ask them something. I used to ring them, while sitting beside them, if i wanted to ask them something

antix80

Health and safety aside (we're really at the stage where someone could sue for deafness because their employer didn't provide a radio) but it's not a good image to project. You look unapproachable. Your boss looks like a walkover.
Depends on org culture I guess but I wouldn't be a fan of people wearing headphones at work.

3DataModem

There are options - I know these soundware collars are expensive AF but it is a good option for music and podcasts without blocking out the surroundings (or looking unapproachable).

https://www.bose.ie/en_ie/products/speakers/portable_speakers/soundwear-companion.html#v=soundwear_companion_black

Rikand

Rikand wrote: »

Are they the kind of earphones where you can have one earbud in one ear and the other one left dangling. That way you can still hear your music and the other ear is perfectly exposed for hearing anything else going on in the office.

I have worked with someone in an admin office who always wore their headphones listening to music on their phone when they worked. It was very annoying when you needed to ask them something because they were just unreachable. Their deskphone lit up though when they had an incoming call, so that wasnt a problem. Just if you needed to verbally ask them something. I used to ring them, while sitting beside them, if i wanted to ask them something

Tap her on the shoulder or wave in front of her? That’s what people do when they want my attention and I do the same with others as almost everyone has headphones on all the time in the office.

Having one ear open defeats one of the main the purposes of wearing headphones - to minimise or eliminate all background noise, people talking etc. It’s why I use noise cancelling over ear headphones as I don’t want to hear anyone or anything. Alarms are still very clear though as the pitch is above the noise cancelling so there is no safety issue.

Ingrid Rhythmic Cross

Ingrid Rhythmic Cross wrote: »

Tap her on the shoulder or wave in front of her? That’s what people do when they want my attention and I do the same with others as almost everyone has headphones on all the time in the office.

Having own ear open defeats one of the main the purposes of wearing headphones - to minimise or eliminate all background noise, people talking etc. It’s why I use noise cancelling over ear headphones as I don’t want to hear anyone or anything. Alarms are still very clear though as the pitch is above the noise cancelling so there is no safety issue.

In my office, if I need to talk to someone 90% of the time I IM them. Even if they are 4 metres away. Practically everyone in the office wears headphones.

stargazer 68

The op said they are on their own in the office so if someone wants to talk to them I'm pretty sure they would notice someone coming into the room. Unless the PC is placed so your back is to the door which is not a good idea, might get caught on boards

Mr Meanor

I would be more worried about wearing earphones during working hours on a long term basis, it's not all about the volume causing NIHL (Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, there's also,

Tinnitus
Hyperacusis
Hearing loss
Dizziness
Ear infection
Excessive ear wax
Pain in the ears
Effect on the brain (sleep and emotional disorders)

gauchesnell

radiotrickster wrote: »

Hi all,

Just looking for an opinion! My colleagues in work all have radios in their offices or computers with speakers to play the radio from. I'm an admin worker in an office alone and have neither.

I'd buy a radio if I had to but for the past few months, I've just stuck my earphones in and listened to podcasts and music when I felt like it. I can go hours without anyone coming into the office and it can be very quiet and a bit boring, although people might look into the office as they walk past.

My colleagues (in different offices) have told me I shouldn't do this as it'll annoy our manager. One told me it's for health and safety reasons "as you can't hear if something is about to fall on your head."

The thing is, I genuinely work better with some background noise. Silence is too distracting and I can never fully concentrate in it. I end up reaching for my phone, where as the background music actually keeps me focused.

I don't thinking listening to music through earphones is different to listening through a speaker or radio. I'm not sure my manager has noticed me wearing earphones but if they have, they never said anything.

Most of my work is impossible to do wrong - basics like filing, photocopying, etc.

So would a low-grade admin worker wearing earphones be a no-go?

I always wear headphones in the office especially if doing minutes. Not an issue. I work better with them in. Dont listen to your colleagues as it is not their business. Possibly annoying your manager is not a valid reason.

I have worked front line though - dealing directly with customers and I wouldnt wear them then i.e. reception etc

Headphones are nearly essential in open plan.

Mr Meanor

Mr Meanor wrote: »

I would be more worried about wearing earphones during working hours on a long term basis, it's not all about the volume causing NIHL (Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, there's also,

Tinnitus
Hyperacusis
Hearing loss
Dizziness
Ear infection
Excessive ear wax
Pain in the ears
Effect on the brain (sleep and emotional disorders)

I’m wearing headphones for 8 hours+ a day most week days and often at other time’s too for the last 15 years or so and have never had any such issues

Gamer Bhoy 89

I was working in a tourist location as a cleaner the last couple of months and there was a strict rule against wearing earphones as we needed to be available for the walkie-talkie whenever it went off.

However, I had three solutions that couldn't be argued against me.

1: Bluetooth earbuds. They aren't obvious and they're wireless
2: One ear in use.
3: Mono output.
(3.5: Volume not too loud. Low enough to not distract you from other people. Loud enough to hear appropriately)

My supervisor has saw me with them on since but because I've always answered my radio immediately and can hear her when she calls me from a distance, it has never came into question.

That's just how it is where I am though, but it wouldn't hurt to try this method.

Tails142

Nobody has mentioned it, but your actually not allowed play music/radio in an office without a licence from IMRO

BIG NO NO in our place, think we might have got caught in the past not sure.

Rat your business out to them and then nobody will be allowed play music, simples!

https://www.imro.ie/music-users/which-licence-suits-my-business/factories-offices/

Gamer Bhoy 89

Tails142 wrote: »

Nobody has mentioned it, but your actually not allowed play music/radio in an office without a licence from IMRO

BIG NO NO in our place, think we might have got caught in the past not sure.

Rat your business out to them and then nobody will be allowed play music, simples!

https://www.imro.ie/music-users/which-licence-suits-my-business/factories-offices/

I guess it differs depending on the type of job/company/boss.

I don't want to encourage bad behaviour, OP, take my comment above with a grain of salt and follow these guidelines quoted.

Mr Meanor

Ingrid Rhythmic Cross wrote: »

I’m wearing headphones for 8 hours+ a day most week days and often at other time’s too for the last 15 years or so and have never had any such issues

Its cumulative and varying in who it affects.
If you look up the research and facts relating to the amount of people that have hearing issues originating from headphone use, it's very worrying now and for the future.

gauchesnell

Mr Meanor wrote: »

Its cumulative and varying in who it affects.
If you look up the research and facts relating to the amount of people that have hearing issues originating from headphone use, it's very worrying now and for the future.

yeah I am a constant wearer and have also experienced none of those issues.

The question is whether they are appropriate for the office - yes they are.

In my workplace we are still working from home and we now have been supplied with headphones as part of our equipment - laptop etc. All vetted by Health & Safety office.

gauchesnell

Gamer Bhoy 89 wrote: »

I was working in a tourist location as a cleaner the last couple of months and there was a strict rule against wearing earphones as we needed to be available for the walkie-talkie whenever it went off.

However, I had three solutions that couldn't be argued against me.

1: Bluetooth earbuds. They aren't obvious and they're wireless
2: One ear in use.
3: Mono output.
(3.5: Volume not too loud. Low enough to not distract you from other people. Loud enough to hear appropriately)

My supervisor has saw me with them on since but because I've always answered my radio immediately and can hear her when she calls me from a distance, it has never came into question.

That's just how it is where I am though, but it wouldn't hurt to try this method.

good suggestions.

pawrick

In the situation you describe I'd be wearing headphones, possibly not from the moment I started work each morning but working on your own in silence all day every day will crack most people up eventually. In previous job I just used one earphone so I could be alert if needed.

Gamer Bhoy 89

gauchesnell wrote: »

good suggestions.

The idea for me is to just have the audio as background noise. I don't like the ambience of the area I'm working in, it stresses me out too much, so the earphones help.

But it's different for everyone and every workplace so I don't wanna put bad ideas into people's heads in case they get in serious trouble