"In one ear and in the other: Firms debate headphone use" May 07, 2012|Katie Johnston, Globe Staff
For
some people, wearing headphones in the office is a way to block out
chatter and get work done. For others, they are big “do not disturb’’
signs on their coworkers’ ears that make it harder to share ideas.
As
companies do away with offices and lower cubicle walls to create a more
collaborative - and noisy - environment, more employees are popping in
earbuds or clamping on noise-canceling headsets. Frequent users swear by
them as a way to increase concentration, but earphones can also promote
isolation, underscoring a growing debate on whether plugging in to your
own personal soundtrack increases productivity or undermines
communication.
“Would
you interrupt a guy who’s pushing a large piece of wood through a saw?
Headphones are the engineer’s way of saying, ‘I’m in the middle of
sawing something here,’ ’’ said Brian Kelly, 35, vice president at the
Tewksbury software firm TimeTrade Systems, where engineers receive three
things on their first day of work: a laptop, 27-inch monitor, and
noise-cancelling headphones. “The only downside is the look of sheer
horror when I put my hand on their shoulder and tell them I want to talk
to them.’’
Elaine Varelas, managing partner at the Boston career management firm
Keystone Partners, said headphones can discourage employees from
connecting with co-workers.
“It’s counterproductive,’’ she said.
“It’s been proven that those informal relationships and informal
interactions make for stronger teams. And stronger teams make for higher
productivity and higher morale.’’
But earphone advocates say shutting out distractions allows workers to get more done....
Charlie Guerrero, a 27-year-old interactive designer at advertising
agency Allen & Gerritsen, said listening to music or tuning into
radio podcasts helps his creativity....
“If you’re wearing your headphones eight hours a day,’’ said Richard
Banfield, 41, chief executive of Fresh Tilled Soil, a Waltham Web-design
company who listens in on conferences while he answers e-mails. “The message is you don’t really want to be here.’’
Some
see pervasive headphone use at work as an extension of the way
electronic media are changing corporate culture, with instant messages
replacing water cooler chitchat and earbuds putting distance between
employees who might otherwise help each other out - and even become
friends....
--more--"
