Boss Says: Do NOT Listen to Music at Work

The Jobacle inbox has recently been hit with several emails from employees complaining that their jobs do not let them listen to music at work.   Not cool.  I am one of those people who is driven my music; it is my life blood.  It helps me concentrate, keeps me motivated, and puts a rhythm to my day like nothing else. Boss's who let me listen to music, get more out of me. But hey, it's their world, I'm just living in it. So let me put on my corporate cap and give you some insight as to why your company won't let you rock out at your desk.

- You’re getting paid to give your full attention to your job. Even if you are an “expert” multi-tasker, your compensation is for 100% -- not 99%.    

- Headphones can keep you from hearing your phone ring, your email chime, or drown out any other audible communication cue.

- What if everyone was in headphones?  Teamwork and synergy would be flushed down the drain.  

- You put the person who comes to your desk, including your boss, in the awkward position of standing there patiently or gesturing wildly to get your attention.

- In an emergency, rapid reaction could be the difference between life and death. If there is a fire drill or true emergency, you risk not hearing the alarm.

- Your I.T. department is scared that you are streaming music and pushing the company’s bandwidth limits to the brink.

Your choices are to…

- Comply with your employer’s headphone rules and live in a world where the music is created by the hum of fluorescent lights.

- Grow your hair long and hide the ear buds; opt for black headphones as they are less noticeable than white.

- Listen in one ear, the side that your boss doesn’t see

Wireless ear buds have to be out there somewhere, no?  Does your boss/company allow you to listen to music at work?  If so, do you listen via headphones or speakers? Let us kno win the comments section below.

Comments

[Sarah Says]

We have a pretty relaxed work environment and virtually everyone on our team listens to music during the day. It's always a good thing to keep one earbud out that way you can still pick up on those communication cues mentioned.

[Hellen | National Labor Relation Act]

The reasons of the bosses of the companies are of course right, concentration on your job might be kind of distracted. If you really want to listen to music, I would say that Andrew is right, better use an earphone that is black and kind of small so that it would not be so noticeable.