Workshop music or not?

[geeman237]

I have recently started a new job managing an automotive related business. We have a workshop with 6 techs. They’re all young and like their music playing. I often find I have to turn it down as I am also based in the workshop for the most part. We sometimes have clients visit.

In all honesty I’m close to the point of banning the playing of music completely.

No doubt a controversial move. I for one can focus much more in a quiet environment. The work the techs do requires thoroughness and consistency without it being production line repetitive.

Anyone any similar experience in this situation and can offer advice?

[21TonyK]

amongst other things I have managed kitchens at various levels over the years and music/radio seems to be a regular feature. I have no issue with this as long as you can easily talk over it, be heared from one side of the kitchen to the other without shouting and you can have a conversation on the phone.

Half an hour before service it all goes off. Maybe a similar approach? Personally I prefer silence when working but some people don;t seem to be able to function without "their music".

[Red9zero]

I quite like a but of background music, but trying to find a balance of the right volume and genre of music that everyone is happy with is hard work. That and the a/c used to be the biggest cause of arguments in our office.

[ZedLeg]

I think if productivity and the quality of the work are up to scratch then let them keep the music.

Set clear rules on what kind of music and volume level are appropriate and if they can’t stick to them that’s when you take it away.

[Rich1973]

If it is being broadcast you will also need a licence for it.

[21TonyK]

Rich1973 said:

If it is being broadcast you will also need a licence for it.

Broadcast or recorded you need a PRS license.

[DodgyGeezer]

an obvious Q is "...does everyone like the same type of music..."? If I had to work somewhere where kiss FM was playing every day I would seriously quit.

[deckster]

21TonyK said:

Rich1973 said:

If it is being broadcast you will also need a licence for it.

Broadcast or recorded you need a PRS license.

They'll need a PRS license if they're listening to the radio. Playing music to your workplace through a personal Spotify account is even more problematic as that's not covered by PRS and is explicitly prohibited by the T&Cs.

Not that anybody's going to check, probably, but the fines are not inconsiderable if they do get found out and especially so if it's audible to customers.

[edc]

Have you considered and weighed up some alternative perspectives?

6 young guys happily going about their work. Life and work is good, bosses seem pleased overall. New boss rocks up and makes what he thinks is a small change but really pisses off the actual guys who need to be in the workshop full time.

6 guys on their guard as they know that whatever the boss seems to want even if it's against what all the others want, he just does it anyway. Time to look for a new job.

[bigpriest]

I'd always be wary of getting rid of background music. What you're left with is definitely not a pristine silence that you can concentrate in but rather all manner of grunts, breathing, coughing, sneezing, chewing, chatting etc.

[Rushjob]

geeman237 said:

I have recently started a new job managing an automotive related business. We have a workshop with 6 techs. They’re all young and like their music playing. I often find I have to turn it down as I am also based in the workshop for the most part. We sometimes have clients visit.

In all honesty I’m close to the point of banning the playing of music completely.

No doubt a controversial move. I for one can focus much more in a quiet environment. The work the techs do requires thoroughness and consistency without it being production line repetitive.

Anyone any similar experience in this situation and can offer advice?

Your job is to manage.
That's what good managers do.
You appear not to be doing that, your opening post sounds like you are overreacting and dictating.
Are the techs good at their jobs?
Are you going to find it easy to replace them and maintain the work quality and throughput that you as a manager are responsible for?
Good techs can walk into a job quite easily, you could end up with lots of egg on your face.
MANAGE the situation, you know, talk to people, discuss the pros and cons of the current situation, find an equitable solution within the group that they buy into.
Or just piss them all off and make your own job many times more difficult than it needs to be.
Whatever you do next has the potential to make the workshop a happy, productive and profitable unit, or not......

[lrdisco]

Rushjob said:

geeman237 said:

I have recently started a new job managing an automotive related business. We have a workshop with 6 techs. They’re all young and like their music playing. I often find I have to turn it down as I am also based in the workshop for the most part. We sometimes have clients visit.

In all honesty I’m close to the point of banning the playing of music completely.

No doubt a controversial move. I for one can focus much more in a quiet environment. The work the techs do requires thoroughness and consistency without it being production line repetitive.

Anyone any similar experience in this situation and can offer advice?

Your job is to manage.
That's what good managers do.
You appear not to be doing that, your opening post sounds like you are overreacting and dictating.
Are the techs good at their jobs?
Are you going to find it easy to replace them and maintain the work quality and throughput that you as a manager are responsible for?
Good techs can walk into a job quite easily, you could end up with lots of egg on your face.
MANAGE the situation, you know, talk to people, discuss the pros and cons of the current situation, find an equitable solution within the group that they buy into.
Or just piss them all off and make your own job many times more difficult than it needs to be.
Whatever you do next has the potential to make the workshop a happy, productive and profitable unit, or not......

Exactly what he says. You are on the verge of fking up your team.

[Driver101]

Banning music will anger your staff. It's not worth getting on the wrong side of people over something so small.

Music makes a big difference to the working atmosphere.

[BorkBorkBork]

I think there’s research somewhere that suggests music in the workplace increases productivity.

[QJumper]

Get earplugs

[CelebrationSport]

I’ve worked with a team of techs in a workshop for 12 years with a radio on in the background. We would go absolutely ape st if it was banned. Leave them alone. Set a max volume with no obviously offensive music played, but that’s it.

[aaron-j9c9a]

Banning music will be the quickest way to get rid of all your young staff.
As the music is already playing I’m guessing there is no issue from them on the genre.

As others have said come to a compromise about an acceptable volume level.

As a new manager you have to pick your battles wisely otherwise it could be you out of a job

[sutoka]

Get them all a pair of wireless AirPods and let them listen to what they want. Luckily my line of work means all staff work on their own for the most part so being anti-social and listening to whatever music or station they want is a given.

I remember working in retail and someone would put Kiss FM or 1Xtra over the tannoy and I wanted to jump out the window.

[Douglas Quaid]

If it’s too loud turn it down a bit but definitely don’t turn it off completely.

[DodgyGeezer]

sutoka said:

I remember working in retail and someone would put Kiss FM or 1Xtra over the tannoy and I wanted to jump out the window.

which is pretty much what I said - I honestly could not work somewhere were that type of music was being played