FabSwingers.com forum: Airpods, headphones, etc in the office

By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it.

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By *ubikslongswordMan
over a year ago

East Grinstead

"I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it. "

From experience in my office it has 0 effect on people approaching me they usually bother me more lol

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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago

Travelling

This is why I have only 1 in when sitting at my desk. In fact most of the time it's just 1 to allow me to keep some sort of awareness

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

It’s a weird one… if I am in the office during my normal shift.. I won’t! But if I am doing overtime.. I will!

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By *flkfunseekerMan
over a year ago

Norwich

I have my airpods in every single day listening to music and to answer calls couldn’t live without them now lol, I have them in the mode where it doesn’t cancel noise out so you can still hear what’s going on around

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By *andyfloss2000Woman
over a year ago

ashford

We are allowed to have one in till the shop opens which is 2 hrs I often speak to others forgetting they have them and get ignored lol! I have never used them! Would hate anything in my ears! X

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

"We are allowed to have one in till the shop opens which is 2 hrs I often speak to others forgetting they have them and get ignored lol! I have never used them! Would hate anything in my ears! X"

I am not an in ears person either.. I find them really uncomfortable.. I love my wireless over my ears headphones, I just have to remind myself not too sing because it’s awfully tempting to

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By *eyond PurityCouple
over a year ago

Lincolnshire

They were always banned in our office until they trialled them and realised that people work more.

I used to have the heaviest death metal playing and then go straight to speaking politely to customers on the phone - my colleagues used to laugh

Now I’m working from home so can have music on my Sonos instead.

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it. "
Inappropriate you are alienating yourself from society

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

Yeah I think it gets in the way of the subtle important non-work stuff. If it was a manager or leader of any sort it’s really bad.

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"We are allowed to have one in till the shop opens which is 2 hrs I often speak to others forgetting they have them and get ignored lol! I have never used them! Would hate anything in my ears! X

I am not an in ears person either.. I find them really uncomfortable.. I love my wireless over my ears headphones, I just have to remind myself not too sing because it’s awfully tempting to

I really can’t do one ear, it gives me a headache! I really hate the in-ear ones too they bother me too much!

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"They were always banned in our office until they trialled them and realised that people work more.

I used to have the heaviest death metal playing and then go straight to speaking politely to customers on the phone - my colleagues used to laugh

Now I’m working from home so can have music on my Sonos instead.

I understand that. I have a lot of trap music on which wouldn’t really fit will with my work if it was played out loud

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"Yeah I think it gets in the way of the subtle important non-work stuff. If it was a manager or leader of any sort it’s really bad."

That’s fair. I think when I go a step or two up the ladder they’ll have to be put away!

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"This is why I have only 1 in when sitting at my desk. In fact most of the time it's just 1 to allow me to keep some sort of awareness "

Oh I replied to the wrong person re’ one. I find one gives me a right headache!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it. Inappropriate you are alienating yourself from society

I agree. And I ask the question having never used anything like it in a working environment, what about safety? Fire alarms etc

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By *alhamCoupleCouple
over a year ago

London

"I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it. "

I struggle with this on my lunch break in the office. It is technically “me time” but the others are there being social and often they make comments to me or have conversations that would probably involve me if I was listening. I think I have given up now and leave the head phones for the journey home.

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"I have my airpods in every time I’m in the office. Often listening to music, sometimes they’re just in to make calls easier. I wonder if it puts people off approaching me to talk.

What do people think? Is it inappropriate? I used to think it was but now I’m more comfortable with it. Inappropriate you are alienating yourself from society

I agree. And I ask the question having never used anything like it in a working environment, what about safety? Fire alarms etc

Mine aren’t noise cancellation but I can see why management would consider those risks.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If I could at work I'd definitely have some in. The music helps of concentrate, and it's not like I drift off to some ethereal plane, I'm still there if people really need something

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By *ayHaych OP Man
over a year ago

Leeds (Home) / Sheffield (Work)

"If I could at work I'd definitely have some in. The music helps of concentrate, and it's not like I drift off to some ethereal plane, I'm still there if people really need something

The music helps, and maybe some ASMR or LoFi/ASMR mixes.

The “at your desk” style audio porn files certainly don’t help

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By *otsossieMan
over a year ago

Chesterfield

"If I could at work I'd definitely have some in. The music helps of concentrate, and it's not like I drift off to some ethereal plane, I'm still there if people really need something

This. I used big headphones to warn people I was busy. They ignored this.

The health and safety argument is nonsense. One of my colleagues was deaf. You can see folk react. If they were that bothered they’d fit a flashing light.

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By *om and JennieCouple
over a year ago

Chams or Socials

When we’re in the office we’re constantly on the phones so would be pointless.

J x

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By *2000ManMan
over a year ago

Worthing

Last office I worked in, just had the one headphone in place. I wanted to know what was going on in the other tech teams.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If I could at work I'd definitely have some in. The music helps of concentrate, and it's not like I drift off to some ethereal plane, I'm still there if people really need something

This. I used big headphones to warn people I was busy. They ignored this.

The health and safety argument is nonsense. One of my colleagues was deaf. You can see folk react. If they were that bothered they’d fit a flashing light. "

What health and safety argument?

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By *andyfloss2000Woman
over a year ago

ashford

"We are allowed to have one in till the shop opens which is 2 hrs I often speak to others forgetting they have them and get ignored lol! I have never used them! Would hate anything in my ears! X

I am not an in ears person either.. I find them really uncomfortable.. I love my wireless over my ears headphones, I just have to remind myself not too sing because it’s awfully tempting to

Ha ha yes! One girl allways singing it's really awfull! But makes me laugh! X

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

I'm old school, I don't agree with it. I think it'd isolating and gives a poor impression. I'm aware that I'm behind the times on this.

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By *omethingDifferent4FunWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh-ish

"This is why I have only 1 in when sitting at my desk. In fact most of the time it's just 1 to allow me to keep some sort of awareness "

I pretty much always use just one ear so I can hear other stuff around, esp out walking/running.

Rarely in the office these days but do sometimes listen to music (in one ear

) while working. My work is very individual though, not interacting with others around other than to chat nonsense!

It can really help folk focus (ADHD etc) so think it's short sighted to assume rude/inappropriate as it may well make some folk more efficient/productive.

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By *andyfloss2000Woman
over a year ago

ashford

"If I could at work I'd definitely have some in. The music helps of concentrate, and it's not like I drift off to some ethereal plane, I'm still there if people really need something

This. I used big headphones to warn people I was busy. They ignored this.

The health and safety argument is nonsense. One of my colleagues was deaf. You can see folk react. If they were that bothered they’d fit a flashing light. "

We only allowed one for the safety! Otherwise how would peeps hear the fire alarm? We have one deaf colleague but he would get the jist if we were all evacuating! X

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By *Booboo-Man
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I keep my headphones on or in to try to stop people talking to me in the office.

Don't really care if people think it's rude, in fact it's better if they do so maybe they'll leave me alone to get work done.

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By *ex HolesMan
over a year ago

Up North

I wear mine all the time even if I’m not taking a call or listening to music. When someone knocks on my office door that I don’t like I just pretend I’m on a call and off they fuck

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If I’m in the office and colleagues are wearing headphones I leave them alone unless it’s a work thing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have headphones on ALL the time. Decorating working, exercising, cleaning, walking…you get my drift

I’ve an extremely busy brain, music grounds and balances me and helps me concentrate on whatever needs concentrating on

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By *he National ThrustMan
over a year ago

Horsham, Sussex

Absolutely love my noise cancelling earbuds and ear defenders, but then I work in a fairly noisy and antisocial environment

The focus and productivity that music or podcasts give is pretty unreal...

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By *heGateKeeperMan
over a year ago

Stratford

It was noted in a 360 that I had that people found me difficult to approach and my use of earphones was one reason. This was pre-covid and I wonder if the use of virtual meetings has made people more willing to accept earphones.

I now have my own office, and often have my earphones in. But I keep my door open so if anyone approaches the door or comes in i just take them out to talk.

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By *eneralKenobiMan
over a year ago

North Angus

My headphones go in to deter people from speaking to me. They know if my headphones are in I’m on a mission

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By *emorefridaCouple
over a year ago

La la land

If people are chatting and distracting me, then yes I'll put one in one ear in case someone wants me. I work more effectively with less distractions around me.

I also will if I'm working with noisy machinery. It's just a nicer sound.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have headphones on (pulled off one ear), or earpods in (only one). So I can listen to music but also be able to hear if my phone rings, if someone talks to me or if the boss asks me anything.

I'm in a quiet corner anyway so it's fine for me personally. Plus I'm not customer/client facing. If I was I wouldn't be able to do it obviously

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