NWR: Headphones in the office

Inkdancer

I, like many others in my office, enjoy listening to music throughout the day. If I am going to do this, I use headphones to minimize distraction to others.

My new cubemate also likes music, but she doesn't have headphones. I can hear her music and I find it distracting. What's the best way to ask her to please stop playing music at a volume I can hear?

pinkcow13

I'm horrible at stuff like that. I used to sit behind a lady who sang ALL DAY LONG and sounded like mating geese. I never had the nerve to tell her to shut up. I suck at being confrontational (for lack of a better word). Right now Big Poppa is playing from my coworkers computer, and the Beyonce song, Drunk in Love, plays at least 3 times a day. She leaves it on, even when she is not around, like now.

I would say, that maybe politely asking if she can turn it down a bit, as the music is distracting you is fine. I wish I could take my own advice! 

doeydo

"Excuse me?  If you want to listen to music, could you please use some headphones or something?  Your music is very distracting."

Maggie0829

Just tell her that her music is a bit distracting and ask if she could please wear headphones.  I am surprised that she didn't have the common sense to just use them from the get go especially when others around her use them.

freebread03

Yeah, you don't need to be nice about it, tell her that her music is distracting and that she should use headphones.  That's actually really ridiculous that she would do that.

phira

I work in a lab, and headphones usually mean, "I am doing a lot of data analysis or writing, so don't disturb me unless it's essential."

If we just want to listen to music and don't mind being distracted, typically we'll do one earbud in, one out.

I'd just ask your coworker to use headphones.

l9i

phira said:

I work in a lab, and headphones usually mean, "I am doing a lot of data analysis or writing, so don't disturb me unless it's essential."

If we just want to listen to music and don't mind being distracted, typically we'll do one earbud in, one out.

I'd just ask your coworker to use headphones.

Exactly!

JellyBean52513

You don't have to be "nice" about it, because it's not an inherently mean request to make--it's completely reasonable! "Hey, could you do me a huge favor and please play your music through headphones? It's really distracting, even when I'm wearing my own headphones. I really appreciate it, thank you."

Inkdancer

So, here's what actually happened:

Her: Wow, it is really loud in here. The sales guys are super noisy.
Me: Yeah, just wait until the end of the month when they're ringing the cow bell all the time! My ears are really sensitive so I try to wear headphones, but I can still usually hear them.
Her: Oh, can you hear my music?
Me: Yes I can.
Her: Oh, I'm sorry, I'll bring headphones tomorrow.

Problem solved.

(NB: Our sales guys ring a cowbell every time they make a sale. It is very annoying.)