Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

npr.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 256 posts

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#151

Post by boyaka »

nisse72 wrote: post #89

I am currently working in a very crowded open office. We have small desks where we sit almost elbow to elbow, the place is all hard surfaces (it's an old industrial building made into office space), and there is a fair amount of noise. But none of this would bother me except for the fact that one senior person has decided to have speakers installed in the ceiling, and we have to listen to non-stop spotify playing top…

This is what I hate about Starbucks, and the fact that it's pretty much the only place I can go to work / get out of the house when the library isn't open.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#152

Post by maxxxxx »

pjc50 wrote: post #44
ryandrake wrote: post #26

Different strokes for different folks. I'm probably the only person on HN that prefers open office workspaces. I currently have an office to myself and it's so lonely and isolating. I think I'd go crazy working all day without human interaction, so I hardly ever use it. And, no, chat isn't an adequate substitute. I'll generally charge up my laptop and go out and work in a break room or some other common area with act…

I think the best environment I had was when there were 3 of us in an office. Enough company to talk to and collaborate with, not enough to prevent work getting done.

That's my favorite setup too. I have made really good friends that way.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#153

Post by jpindar »

ar15saveslives wrote: post #144
mwfunk wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Different people are different. Crazy huh?

People, who can choose where to sit, never pick a cubicle.

I would take a pay cut to be allowed to work in a cubicle. (Especially if other people would cut back on the chatter a bit, as typically happens in cube farms as opposed to open offices.)

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#154

Post by jpindar »

developer2 wrote: post #147
pasbesoin wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's often worse in that the noisy person hinders their coworkers, while no one hinders them -- particularly in a work culture that lauds "open" and discourages a limiting response on the part of others towards that person. Meanwhile, the quiet people are not keeping the noisy one from their work or working effectively if and when they choose to concentrate. Result? The noisy people "succeed". I consider it a cousin…

Right, blame the worker who has no choice but to work surrounded by another 100 people. Don't blame the business who cut corners on structural costs. Open offices don't exist because it's "better" for anyone; they exist because businesses save millions of dollars in building costs, and conveniently label it as a "cultural" thing.

Just because we're both forced to work in the same room doesn't mean my coworkers have no choice but to force me to listen to their political rants etc. If I complained, I'd be labeled as "antisocial".

That IS bullying.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#155

Post by compuguy »

davidtgoldblatt wrote: post #18

An anecdote for those who hoped they'd find suggestions in the comments: I ended up buying some over-the-head earmuff headphones aimed at construction workers (I think with a 25dB noise reduction rating). I put in ear plugs, then the headphones, and play some light music; even relatively loud and nearby conversations drop away pretty quickly. (Ordinary "noise cancelling" headphones aren't intended to block the sound…

I use a pair of DT-770 pro 250 ohm with an amplifier. Works great but I really don't want to wear headphones all the time in the office.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#156

Post by b2600 »

I understand people can be and are distractions but from my background I believe you should be able to perform your tasks regardless. While a legitimate issue, this sounds like searching for excuses. You perform in the environment you are in. Everyone else is suffering the same distractions.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#157

Post by rhizome »

Grishnakh wrote: post #95
mahyarm wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's very difficult to find a place that isn't open office. Every single place I've interviewed and worked at has been open office or low wall cubicles which might as well be open office. The only places that I know of that have private offices for some engineers are joel spolsky companies, microsoft and apple. So the people who prefer open offices already have a ton of choice. Those who don't have almost no choice.

You know what we need? Some kind of website that lists companies and tells what kind of office environment they have, so that we can proactively look for companies that have the office layout we prefer.

Glassdoor could easily add that.

Re: Noisy Coworkers And Other Sounds Are A Distraction In Workplace

#160

Post by bigger_cheese »

I work in an open office and honestly it doesn't bother me. When I'm working on a problem intently I tend to get into a headspace where I don't notice the distractions around me.

Sometimes if I'm deeply engrossed in a problem a coworker will have to repeat my name several times before I realize they are trying to get my attention.

Other people in my team complain about the environment a lot. The ones that do tend to listen to music on headphones to tune out.

I think a lot of it depends on your upbringing. I grew up as the oldest child in a house full of younger siblings my home environment was always very noisy so I suspect I have a higher tolerance for working/studying etc in a distraction rich environment.

The benefit I see to an open office is being able to contribute to colleagues discussions several times a week I'll overhear a conversation or a colleague will be listening to mine and be able to interject.

Several valuable conversations have started based around "I overheard you were working on... I had a similar problem I solved by doing... Then often a third colleague will jump in etc. If we were each in private offices this wouldn't have occurred.

Edit: Related anecdote when I was at University I spent some time working as an apprentice the company wasn't expecting me to show up or there was some communication issue etc didn't have a proper desk for me when I arrived so for several weeks they shoved me into the room with all the photocopiers and this huge B0 drafting printer the Mechanical Engineers used to print technical drawings. This thing was based on old dot matrix technology used to make a hell of a lot of noise when it fired up it would scare the crap out of me every time. That obviously was distracting...

Post reply on HN