Workday Soundtrack
18 Jan 05
Given the job that I do most every day – developing, maintaining and updating web sites – much of my time is spent in front of the computer interacting only with it. Often, hours can go by without verbal contact with anyone. Not on the telephone, not in person.
During these long stretches of productive solitude, I, like many, enjoy listening to music. It helps me focus. It helps the time pass quickly. It’s often better then the muted din of colleagues in random conversations.
As I’m not one to impose my listening upon those around me who don’t want to hear it, I do use headphones with the iPod. I am fortunate enough to be able to do this at my workplace. Nobody seems to mind. I have heard, though, that there are companies who don’t allow their employees to listen to any music while working, even if they have a job where doing so wouldn’t be a distraction.
To me, this denial of something as benign as listening to music while working is indicative of an opressive working environment. It’s likely just one manifestation of some employer’s need to control their workers. Telephone restrictions on personal use, a close watch eye over supplies and severe dress codes come to mind as other manifestations.
That’s not for me
I’m not sure how long I could last in a job that was so rigid. I don’t believe in restricting people to make them perform in a certain way – you just won’t get good results out of them. As long as an employee can deliver what is expected of him or her, it doesn’t really matter to me what they do to get to that point – so long as what they do is legal and ethical.
So, if you’re an employee that does the type of work that you can listen to music while you do your job, how does your employer feel about you doing so? Conversely, if you are an employer or a manager, where do you stand on supporting the listening habits your employees?
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