Music at Work
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How many of you are allowed to listen to music at work? I share an office with 2 other people, so I like to wear headphones while I work. I find the music acts as a sort of catalyst that really helps me focus and be productive. Without the music, I tend to get distracted by anything and everything and I find it really difficult to stay focused. However, I've been told to stop wearing headphones as I don't look "welcoming" to people entering the office with questions. To clarify, my position is actually something of an "application support" person, with programming to fill in the gaps. Lately however, more than 90% of my time has been devoted to programming. So while I can expect to be interrupted at any time, it very rarely happens. Since people can wander in at any time with a problem, I can apparently look "too busy" and people don't feel as though they can disturb me. Since my desk doesn't face the door, I can't always hear when people come in. I offered to purchase a mirror for my monitor (like the one my boss has) so that I could see the door and remove the headphones whenever someone entered. But of course, that isn't the point, is it... Apparently though, it's ok to use speakers to listen to my music - even though this will no doubt irritate my fellow office workers. In fact, I refuse to even entertain the idea of speakers while I share an office with others. Interestingly, the Big Boss (above the person telling me I can't use headphones) is completely on my side, and agrees that programmers should be able to listen to music. However, stepping over my boss' authority to get my way is a political minefield that I feel is best avoided. On the other hand however, I can be so much more productive with music... Any thoughts?
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Not letting a programmer listen to music is like not allowing dual monitors. I wouldn't work for a company that doesn't allow either. They are essential.
A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the Universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." -- Stephen Crane
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abysmal = bad, and cubicle = open office steup, right? :confused:
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
Tree in C# || Fold With Us! || sighist -
How many of you are allowed to listen to music at work? I share an office with 2 other people, so I like to wear headphones while I work. I find the music acts as a sort of catalyst that really helps me focus and be productive. Without the music, I tend to get distracted by anything and everything and I find it really difficult to stay focused. However, I've been told to stop wearing headphones as I don't look "welcoming" to people entering the office with questions. To clarify, my position is actually something of an "application support" person, with programming to fill in the gaps. Lately however, more than 90% of my time has been devoted to programming. So while I can expect to be interrupted at any time, it very rarely happens. Since people can wander in at any time with a problem, I can apparently look "too busy" and people don't feel as though they can disturb me. Since my desk doesn't face the door, I can't always hear when people come in. I offered to purchase a mirror for my monitor (like the one my boss has) so that I could see the door and remove the headphones whenever someone entered. But of course, that isn't the point, is it... Apparently though, it's ok to use speakers to listen to my music - even though this will no doubt irritate my fellow office workers. In fact, I refuse to even entertain the idea of speakers while I share an office with others. Interestingly, the Big Boss (above the person telling me I can't use headphones) is completely on my side, and agrees that programmers should be able to listen to music. However, stepping over my boss' authority to get my way is a political minefield that I feel is best avoided. On the other hand however, I can be so much more productive with music... Any thoughts?
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Miszou wrote:
How many of you are allowed to listen to music at work?
I work from home, but I have always ben allowed to have music at work. I just don't need headphones anymore.
Miszou wrote:
On the other hand however, I can be so much more productive with music...
The only reason I've found music helps me be productive is that it acts as a barrier ( just as your boss claims ), which stopped people from talking to me. I don't see how or why music could help you concentrate. I don't find it distracts me, I usually don't hear most of it, most of the things I listen to, I've been hearing for 20 years now, so it kind of washes over me, I know what's coming next.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ Metal Musings - Rex and my new metal blog
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I'm not following you. I work well in a cubicle with few distractions, stick me in an open office with dozens of people coming, going, and doing stuff in my line of sight and I won't have done anything at the end of the day.
Cubicles[^] With respect to distractions, it's for me the same as "Open Office Space" so put me there, and my performance will be bad (at least that's what I tried to say)
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
Tree in C# || Fold With Us! || sighist -
How many of you are allowed to listen to music at work? I share an office with 2 other people, so I like to wear headphones while I work. I find the music acts as a sort of catalyst that really helps me focus and be productive. Without the music, I tend to get distracted by anything and everything and I find it really difficult to stay focused. However, I've been told to stop wearing headphones as I don't look "welcoming" to people entering the office with questions. To clarify, my position is actually something of an "application support" person, with programming to fill in the gaps. Lately however, more than 90% of my time has been devoted to programming. So while I can expect to be interrupted at any time, it very rarely happens. Since people can wander in at any time with a problem, I can apparently look "too busy" and people don't feel as though they can disturb me. Since my desk doesn't face the door, I can't always hear when people come in. I offered to purchase a mirror for my monitor (like the one my boss has) so that I could see the door and remove the headphones whenever someone entered. But of course, that isn't the point, is it... Apparently though, it's ok to use speakers to listen to my music - even though this will no doubt irritate my fellow office workers. In fact, I refuse to even entertain the idea of speakers while I share an office with others. Interestingly, the Big Boss (above the person telling me I can't use headphones) is completely on my side, and agrees that programmers should be able to listen to music. However, stepping over my boss' authority to get my way is a political minefield that I feel is best avoided. On the other hand however, I can be so much more productive with music... Any thoughts?
The StartPage Randomizer | The Timelapse Project | A Random Web Page
Miszou wrote:
I like to wear headphones while I work. I find the music acts as a sort of catalyst that really helps me focus and be productive. Without the music, I tend to get distracted by anything and everything and I find it really difficult to stay focused.
Yes. I sometimes get my best work don't when listening to certain music.
Miszou wrote:
Any thoughts?
Many. So, what do you listen to? I'm currently listening to Mike Oldfield - Absolutely brilliant guy, very talanted.
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