# Headphones in the office - yay or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239 "2014-07-16T00:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/21 "2014-07-16T13:15:58Z")
I’ve never heard of headphones being an issue anywhere. Of course my current work environment is a tech consulting firm staffed by inept morons. So more often than not, I’ll hear some dumbass account manager blasting some idiotic YouTube clip at full volume, so we aren’t big on professionalism. But even when I was working in a stuffy Big-4 accounting firm, headphones were never an issue. People just assume you are listening to music or something while you’re working. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/22 "2014-07-16T13:24:11Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > 1. I can’t imagine getting upset by headphone in a private office. > > I do find them a bit off putting in cubes, where casual conversation is likely. I’ll do the one earbud thing when I have a repetitive task to do, but I do think it is more professional to be fully present. I think they are even more important in a cube environment. We have real nice big cubes, and not many people in the office, but I do get sick of hearing people yakking on about stuff that does not relate to me at all. (be it work or personal.) ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/23 "2014-07-16T13:29:40Z")
I vote nay. The guy has an office with a door. If it’s noisy, close the door. If he’s goofing around, he needs more work. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/24 "2014-07-16T13:34:12Z")
I vote nay but our office layout is such that you’re often talking to someone from around a corner or next door. If I wore headphones, I’d be making people walk over to me to get my attention fairly frequently which I’m sure would lose its novelty in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/25 "2014-07-16T13:38:19Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I think they are even more important in a cube environment. > > We have real nice big cubes, and not many people in the office, but I do get sick of hearing people yakking on about stuff that does not relate to me at all. (be it work or personal.) This. I wear big, over-ear headphones all day at my office (when I’m not manning the public desk) and my boss doesn’t care. Most of the time I’m not actually even listening to anything, I’m wearing them so I can do my work without having to hear inane office chatter. 36 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/26 "2014-07-16T13:49:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I vote nay but our office layout is such that you’re often talking to someone from around a corner or next door. If I wore headphones, I’d be making people walk over to me to get my attention fairly frequently which I’m sure would lose its novelty in a hurry. I wish they WOULD come talk to me. Now, I’m a little hard of hearing. Not to the point of needing hearing aids, it’s tinnitus. Anyway, one of my cube mates will mumble something to me (another co-worker gave her the nick ‘The mumbler’). Anyway, I can’t hear her, and I get up to see what the deal is (I have 15 years seniority on her). Now otherwise I love her to death. Great worker, nice person. But I wish she would just email me or come to my desk. When I where headphones, I let her know. That’s her cue that she has to come and actually speak to me. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/27 "2014-07-16T13:52:57Z")
Communication in general: If you need to talk to me about something work-related, super. No problem. If you want to chat, I have no problem with that whatsoever, as long as your motivation is that you want to chat. If you have information you genuinely want me to hear, or want to solicit my opinion, or whatever. Fine. Great. HOWEVER, if your motivation for running your mouth is because (A) you don’t like silence and feel an urge to fill it some way, or (B) you’re just constitutionally incapable of not hearing your own voice for ten seconds, then I WILL ignore you. I have much more interesting things being said on my iPod that I am actively choosing to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/28 "2014-07-16T13:57:35Z")
I have an office with a door and I still wear headphones quite a bit. I’m 50. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/29 "2014-07-16T14:29:51Z")
I’m a programmer in an open plan office. You can probably find more people with headphones than without, it is how you block out the noise of everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/30 "2014-07-16T14:31:45Z")
But (old person here) how does wearing headphones affect other’s perception & opinion of you, when it comes to possible advancement? Are you considered to be seriously engaged in your work? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/31 "2014-07-16T14:45:42Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > But (old person here) how does wearing headphones affect other’s perception & opinion of you, when it comes to possible advancement? Are you considered to be seriously engaged in your work? In my line of work, yes. The powers that be know that different programmers work best in all sorts of different situations. It is similar as to why we don’t have to wear suits. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/32 "2014-07-16T14:49:31Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > But (old person here) how does wearing headphones affect other’s perception & opinion of you, when it comes to possible advancement? Are you considered to be seriously engaged in your work? In software development, if anything, it’s a sign that you _are_ seriously engaged in your work. Unfortunately most offices are loud, and when you’re doing a job where you need to concentrate, drowning out office noise with music is often your only choice. I’m old(ish), too. Mid-40s. Wearing earphones in the office has always been just fine in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/33 "2014-07-16T14:49:31Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > In my line of work, yes. > > The powers that be know that different programmers work best in all sorts of different situations. It is similar as to why we don’t have to wear suits. Same here. Also a programmer. If I’m wearing headphones, it’s basically a do not disturb sign unless it’s important. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/34 "2014-07-16T14:50:34Z")
LOL, all the programmers chime in at once on that one! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/35 "2014-07-16T15:06:21Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I vote nay. The guy has an office with a door. If it’s noisy, close the door. If he’s goofing around, he needs more work. 100% productivity is a pipe dream in \*any \*industry. The average 8-hour day for a white-collar worker should/generally does consist of 5-6 hours of actual work, if not less. Particularly for someone who is especially fast at completing their assigned tasks. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/36 "2014-07-16T15:12:37Z")
Cubicles are almost unheard of in Spain, the closest we come are some bank offices where the people who used to be cashiers sit on large desks separated from their neighbor by a privacy screen. Usually it’s either individual office or open plan. I’ve never seen an office with cubicles in the wilds in Europe, although there probably are some somewhere. Currently I’m sharing an office with a Swede, in Sweden. When I play music it’s with headphones on, but sadly it’s touch and go whether the system will actually recognize them as “something you use to play music” or not. I would not stream at the office - too often, I’ve seen the people who did be the same ones who’d complain about how slow the network was :rolleyes: but I like working with music and I don’t think it’s polite to subject people to my attacks of Oysterband, Gogol Bordello or Manu Chao. At the same time, the headphones do not, in my case, constitute a “do not disturb” sign, where a closed door would. They’re an “I don’t want to bother you” sign (see above re. musical taste). ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/37 "2014-07-16T15:23:36Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > But (old person here) how does wearing headphones affect other’s perception & opinion of you, when it comes to possible advancement? Are you considered to be seriously engaged in your work? This is the thing. I understand that in some professions - programmers, IT-types, administrative, etc. - headphones are the norm and accepted. On our floor, he’s one of 45-ish people, and he’s the ONLY one wearing headphones (in both ears). Maybe one or two others will have a radio on at a low level. Otherwise, our doors are all open (unless on a conference call/speaker phone) and there is a lot of interaction and talking to people from the office door or in their offices. Again, I don’t have an issue with it, but I do think it probably affects how people view him here. It seems to be viewed as unprofessional and the assumption is that he’s goofing off. It’s sort of like that old ‘dress and act for the position you’re aiming for’. I believe that part of the reason I’m advancing so quickly is because I _do_ dress and act like a more senior member of the company, even though I’m a few years and positions from that role. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/38 "2014-07-16T15:25:29Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > But (old person here) how does wearing headphones affect other’s perception & opinion of you, when it comes to possible advancement? Are you considered to be seriously engaged in your work? This isn’t the 1950s where everyone is expected to wear the same white shirts and black ties and act in the same exact way so Old Man Johnson doesn’t crack the whip on them. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/39 "2014-07-16T15:31:45Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > This is the thing. > > I understand that in some professions - programmers, IT-types, administrative, etc. - headphones are the norm and accepted. On our floor, he’s one of 45-ish people, and he’s the ONLY one wearing headphones (in both ears). Maybe one or two others will have a radio on at a low level. Otherwise, our doors are all open (unless on a conference call/speaker phone) and there is a lot of interaction and talking to people from the office door or in their offices. > > Again, I don’t have an issue with it, but I do think it probably affects how people view him here. It seems to be viewed as unprofessional and the assumption is that he’s goofing off. > > It’s sort of like that old ‘dress and act for the position you’re aiming for’. I believe that part of the reason I’m advancing so quickly is because I _do_ dress and act like a more senior member of the company, even though I’m a few years and positions from that role. What sort of work do you do? If you work in a profession where a lot of interaction is expected, then headphones might give the impression someone is “tuning out”. I actually rarely listen to headphones at work, even though I work in a tech industry. One, I’m on conference calls all day long (I actually stopped going to the office for the past week since I basically wake up and jump on back to back calls from 8 to 2pm with people who are not local anyway). And two, if I managed people who could actually see me, I don’t want to create a perception that I am disconnected. But for the worker bees, it’s fine if they want to listen to Pandora or whatever while they work. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239/40 "2014-07-16T15:37:06Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Again, I don’t have an issue with it, but I do think it probably affects how people view him here. It seems to be viewed as unprofessional and the assumption is that he’s goofing off. > > It’s sort of like that old ‘dress and act for the position you’re aiming for’. I believe that part of the reason I’m advancing so quickly is because I _do_ dress and act like a more senior member of the company, even though I’m a few years and positions from that role. If that’s how it works in your office, that’s fine. I’ve seen it before. Nobody else’s experiences in any other offices will necessarily apply or matter, though. You can either tell this guy what the boss thinks of him, or you could just let it be and appreciate that he’s not in competition for the promotion you seem to desire. I’d take door number 2, personally. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphones-in-the-office-yay-or-nay/693239.md?page=3)