Radio's and MP3 players at work?

falko89

We used to have radio at work until the boss came around the corner and caught someone singing to it and decided to turn it off, he is that sort of hateful !!!!, that was last month and its not been on since, people then decided to bring in MP3 players or listen to the radio on their phones, we then got a letter in our wage slips saying they were baned, can he do this? Ok it only a radio and we are there to work etc but I found the radio a life saver for killing the monotony on a production line, we are all situated in a way that we can't even talk to each other either so its hell for some days 11/12 hrs with only your thoughts to occupy yourself.

scooby088

Of course he is within his rights to ban the radio and mp3 players, but any reasonable boss would see that having a radio you get a more productive worker. Best thing to do is to ask for a compromise of some sort.

Uncertain

falko89 wrote: »

We used to have radio at work until the boss came around the corner and caught someone singing to it and decided to turn it off, he is that sort of hateful !!!!, that was last month and its not been on since, people then decided to bring in MP3 players or listen to the radio on their phones, we then got a letter in our wage slips saying they were baned, can he do this? Ok it only a radio and we are there to work etc but I found the radio a life saver for killing the monotony on a production line, we are all situated in a way that we can't even talk to each other either so its hell for some days 11/12 hrs with only your thoughts to occupy yourself.

Yes he can (and he has) and he is allowed to!

Uncertain

scooby088 wrote: »

having a radio you get a more productive worker.

That is a matter of opinion generally held by those who like it. Not everybody would agree by any means.

tonyh66

Uncertain wrote: »

That is a matter of opinion generally held by those who like it. Not everybody would agree by any means.

a happier worker is a more productive worker

AP007

For a radio or any music in the work place you need a license, does your work have one?

paddyrg

I worked in a factory once - we had an hour of radio in the afternoon, otherwise not allowed. Can't say anyone was more or less effective during that hour from what I saw tbh.

Uncertain

tonyh66 wrote: »

a happier worker is a more productive worker

Indeed but having to listen to somebody else's choice of radio station may not make you happy!

falko89

Uncertain wrote: »

Indeed but having to listen to somebody else's choice of radio station may not make you happy!

Well this is also true, best thing on the radio was the adverts and the hourly news, I am more a talk radio fan. Certainly don't miss Gangnam style on hourly repeat.

Tiddlywinks

Yes, definitely need a licence:

http://www.ppluk.com/I-Play-Music/Businesses/Why-do-I-need-a-licence/

Your boss has the right to decide whether he allows music to be played - do you have any employee representatives or regular meetings with the boss where this could be raised as an issue?

I have to say that one man's musical pleasure is another's absolute hell... I certainly wouldn't like to be forced to listen to radio 1 for even a minute so if that was played where I worked, and I was forced to listen to it, I would probably be less productive.

Also, some environments would not be suitable for listening to MP3 players or whatever - ultimately, it is up to the management.

Gingernutty

Yes. He can ban radios, Walkmans, mp3 players and the like.

You're in a production line in a busy factory and anything which interferes with your ability to hear alarms/cries for help and so on should be banned.

Any H&S bod will recommend it.

I've worked stacking shelves in a supermarket, in open plan offices and laboratories and alone locked in a windowless cupboard and anything with earphones is automatically banned.

Banning the radio does seem Scrooge like, but unless your company has a PRS licence, it's probably for the best.