POLL: Music at the workplace?

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Ok, so as many of you know, I'm currently working at Ultradent - in the metal fabrication shop - building the new shipping line.

Ever since we got "phase 1" up and running, one of the supervisors of the shipping line brought in a radio so that all could enjoy some music while they worked. That's great and all for the worker's moral. But the radio was set at a station who's slogan was, "Playing today's 'best' variety", which means it constantly over-plays all that pop and R&B crap, with a small side of alternative rock. It was still bearable though. But they recently hired several new employees for the shipping line, as they will be adding a new shift. One of the new hires is some punk-ass looking kid who has to keep pulling up his pants to keep them from falling off.

My crew has all of our stuff set up in the rear, right hand corner of the shipping line, to stay out of their way. So we all watched this kid "walk" in to the shipping line area, go straight to the radio, change the station to some rap station...that plays nothing but rap...and then he cranks the volume up – loud, all without asking one of the supervisors or the actual owner of the radio.

Now my question is: Should some random person be allowed to put on any type of music they like and have it playing loud so that everyone can "enjoy" it - or - should everyone who wants to listen to music be required to bring a CD player/Mp3 player with headphones.

That's the question that will be in the poll.
I'm not including a "let everyone decide on a single station" option because of the people I work with are from extremely different cultures and age groups. There's a bunch of people that like Jessica Simpson - and that kind of pop music, there are the country lovers, there are the "Metal Heads", there are the "soft rockers", and finally, the one or two people that like rap and nothing but rap.

So what do you think?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 27 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Music at the workplace? (27 votes.)

Should one person control the radio, or should everyone have to wear headphones? (Choose 1)
* Let one person control the radio - not everyone will like it, but at least there is music playing! - 26% (7)
* Toss the radio! Make everyone who wants to listen to music bring a CD/Mp3 player and headphones! - 74% (20)

 

No! Some random person should NOT be allowed to put on any type of music he desires or crank up the volume without asking anyone! CD/MP3 player is a dood ideea. But maybe not everyone can afford one

 

I don't mind having a middle of the road station playing softly (I detest loud music being played outside of a party, concert etc.) on the radio but I certainly object to one person arbitrarily changing the channel to a selection that the majority will not like.

Personally, I am a big classic music fan so the music that is put on is almost never what I would choose to listen to but I will quite happily put up with a moderate station such as the one that was originally on at Kitrax's work.

I would rather that people bring their own radio,walkman,mp3 player etc. with headphones but that may not always be practical if it is necessary for the workers to be able immediately hear and react to verbal instructions.

 

In my class, me and some of my friends like metal,but others don't like it.So we bring mp3 players.But sometimes we take speakers to the school,too.And...POGO!..

 

No, he should not be allowed to change it without consensus (and if he doesn't like that, he can walk out the door).

We used to have music wars where I used to work -- until the management just decided it was too much a pain in the ass.

There's how many of you? One of him. Lay out the law. The station stays as is until X number of people approve of changing it. An alternative is to vary the station at breaks.

 

Music at the workplace should be restricted to headphones. I do not want to hear Cheryl Crow or some other bloody country singer for hours on end, and I do NOT want to hear Michael "Michelle" Jackson (ever, for any length of time).

 

There's a debate here in Barcelona because in the train and at the train/metro station, from the speakers you can hear classic music; so some people complain about this and some people like the music, as for me, I don't pay attention on it but you can see really angry people fighting for that matter; so, I don't care if at my work someone tune the radio with music that he/she likes, and if I don't like that I just take my mp3 player and plug myself my headphones; the other day a guy changed the station of the radio that is at my work because he doesn't like "the 80's station" so when the first hip hop song was aired, the woman who is closest to the desk with the radio changed the station to another more soft; it was a fight so I just walked there and turned off the radio saying: because of you I can't hear either one or another so please... at that point the boss came in and everybody ran to their desks, my boss turned the radio on asking why was so quite and tunned that 80's radio and as long as he stayed there, we listened a very nice 80's selection.

 

Let the radio be, for those who like it. Where headphones to listen to what you like. Otherwise, just mock the pop! You know, sing along sarcastically, dance a little. Have fun with the situation.

 

You have to show him who'se boss. Or at least that majority rules, and if he doesn't take a hint, break the radio. But then again I absolutely loathe rap... I voted MP3 players, because I wouldn't be able to stand something like that going on.

 

I'm sure the supervisor will take action sooner or later, given the loud ruckus. I don't think headphones would be great in a workplace either, I mean you aren't supposed to tune your co-workers out completely.

 

I say make the individual bring their own headphones if immediate reaction isn't required...

 

Well he shouldn't be allowed to change the radio without asking first. Personally though, I don't care what's playing on the radio at work (you should be working, right? Not paying attention to the music). BYO music & headphones I say.

 

Actually people should be allowed to bring in CD and take it in turns, so that everyone can hear different music. Thats what we do at my company.

Though I would hate to be listening to mindless rap or hiphop.

 

I worked at a soft dev co for 3 years and we were all aloud to wear headphones, we tried a radio a couple of times but there were far too many clashes on tatse of music. It stopped us talking, made us concentrate on our work and took the thought of ACTUAL work of our minds to the point where we'd do overtime without knowing it.

Now I work for a crappy company where were not even alowed to talk, how crazy is that?!?

 

Well - methinks what should be done is this - invest in a CD player or MP3 player and play that rather then the radio. Get everyone to make compilation CDs/upload MP3s and just play them - everyone can get their thing played then.

 

yeah, kinda inconsiderate to play stuff out loud at the workplace imo. I listen to my music loudly, but I can NOT concentrate while music is playing, so I wouldn't want anyone to do that with me.

the mob, huh?

 

Hi all, this is terrible!
All these votes for headphones it is clear that there is a burgeoning and dangerous cult of the earless among us.

[ March 16, 2005, 18:43: Message edited by: Ik ]

 

Uhh, not trying to offend you Ik, but why do you say "Hi" to everyone, everyday, in every single thread? We know you already, chill dude...