Employers who invested in creating open plan offices to promote better communication now have a new barrier to contend with – the MP3 player.
With eight million of the devices sold last year in the UK alone, increasing numbers of workers are using them to “tune out” the wider office environment. By wearing the MP3’s highly visible headphones, they are sending a pretty clear signal to colleagues that they do not want to be disturbed.
According to one survey, by workplace-interior specialist Woods Bagot, up to 22 per cent of UK office staff use their MP3s to create their own personal space and at some time during the working day.
Many would claim that removing external distractions in this way can help them to focus on important projects or write up key reports. But this can be at the expense of teamwork and co-operation with colleagues – the very reasons open-plan offices were introduced in the first place.
There are other problems, too. While Apple sees music as the only reason for owning an iPod, its competitors have simply created large data stores with some built-in music software. A 20-gigabyte MP3 player could hold more than 750,000 three-page word-processing files. An employee with a grudge could easily download sensitive information and walk out of the workplace with it in a pocket.
Even if employees only use their MP3s for playing music, they could be risking their hearing by setting the volume too high. Research by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People shows that two-thirds of young people who use MP3s regularly face premature hearing loss because of this. If the usage takes place during the working day, the employer could be guilty of failing to protect their health and safety.
Other threats could arise if, for example, the organisation uses a loudspeaker system to warn employees of dangers or broadcast other crucial information.
“Leaking” sound from noisy headphones can also drive a wedge between MP3 users and colleagues who prefer a quiet working environment.
Against this background, some organisations have decided to ban MP3s entirely. Others are trying to manage the various threats that the devices could pose.
As a minimum, employers must tell their employees that they must not connect non-company devices to office computers or other peripherals. If employees wish to use their MP3s during working hours, they must first have the permission of a supervisor – and must agree not to set the volume too loud.
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Notes to Editors
Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law is a commercial law practice providing a range of legal service to business and commercial clients in Oldham and North Manchester.
As one of the leading law firms in the North of England, Pearson Hinchliffe’s mission is to be ‘the complete law firm’ providing the highest quality legal services to its clients. It does this by offering practical and cost effective, high quality legal advice for a wide range of clients. Each client is catered for as an individual with their business and personal requirements taken into account which allows for a highly personalised service.
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