topic Re: Office Situation in Community Chat

Office Situation

Fashionista17 — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:22:31 GMT

So I've just started a new job and so far I like my boss and the office itself seems great. Just one thing. On past jobs, I either had my own office or shared an office with 1 or 2 people at the most. But in this new job, I am sharing a cubicle (a small one at that) with a guy who is nice enough, but it's so hard to go from having at least a little privacy to having hardly any. I know, be glad I have a job (I definitely am) and this is how offices are these days. I also know I should be glad I'm not in an "open office" with no privacy at all. I am pretty much an introvert and will take some getting used to this if I want to be productive. Does anyone have any advice? How do you tune out all the distractions and focus on work while still engaging with those around you? Maybe this sounds trivial but to me it's not!

Re: Office Situation

cerinthe — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:48:41 GMT

I hate those office situations. I love my privacy and tend to need 'quiet' to work. However, I also love that headphones are totally acceptable now (well- in many offices,) and if you can slip those in for 'focus sessions' for certain periods of time throughout the day, I think you could have a mix of being accessible and also have periods of more focus. Something like Bose Quiet Comfort 25 with noise cancelling technology might be good. Play 'nature sounds' if music is distracting or 'ocean waves' or meditative tones, etc. You don't have to wear them all the time, but have a schedule. Like between 10-noon you have them on, or ... depends what your job entails.

I think using noise cancelling headphones is best (at least for me,) lets the 'sound' stay quieter and lower and more 'in the background' and blocks a lot of outside activity at the same time. It also lets others know "I'm working, please don't disturb" which I find to be my biggest distraction in a 'shared' office!

Re: Office Situation

Preds — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:55:18 GMT

I feel your pain. I can't focus on what I need to do when someone is talking to me or around me. Time will help you be able to tune them out. Not an easy answer ... doesn't always work either. I have had to tell people to "tune it down a notch." I've also chased people out of my area in order to work. Give it a little time and you will find a way to make it work for you. Good luck on your new job and hope you find a way to enjoy it.

Re: Office Situation

Snowpuppy — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:56:58 GMT

Why do you need privacy at the office?

While my cell phone sits on silent at my desk, I go on break & leave my office to make a call. I powder my nose in the ladies room and leave the office at lunchtime if I need a call longer than a minute or two.

Im not a person to hang out in the lunchroom or gossip in the hallways and if I need privacy I leave my office or the building.

Re: Office Situation

Moonchilde — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:08:22 GMT

There seem to be two issues you have brought forward - privacy and productivity.

As far as privacy, IMO the workplace isn't appropriate for private/family cell conversations. Do those in the hall, outside or in the bathroom, or at lunch, not throughout the workday. Chances are you cubie-mate isn't going to pay any more attention to you than you will to him.

Regarding productivity - are you left to do your work by yourself? Does your job include answering the phones? If you aren't having to frequently answer phones, the headphones and white noise are a good suggestion. If you have to remain focally part of the office as a whole all the time and it's noisy - been there and am doing that and it sux. Just do the best you can.

Re: Office Situation

cotton4me — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:14:41 GMT

As a fellow introvert I understand. I second the idea of headphones. One time I had to share a small office with a very negative and overbearing person. Listening to the radio helped me go into my own zone while I was working. Depending on my mood I would listen to talk radio or music. Radio-locator.com is a great resource for finding whatever station you like. I would also suggest making your area as pleasant as possible with things you enjoy, things that bring a sense of peace, calm or joy when you look at them – calendars, pictures, knick-knacks, etc. Good luck!

Re: Office Situation

151949 — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:23:07 GMT

Being a nurse I have never had an office to work in. I have always had to do all my work sitting at a desk in the main hallway outside my patient's room, had to listen to the monitors beeping , the ventilator noises etc etc plus the constant phone ringing and other people's conversations. Not to mention constant interruptions by patient call lights and families and doctors interrupting every thought, and almost constantly having co workers asking for assistance tp lift or turn someone. I would have thought a cubicle with just one other person was a dream come true.

Re: Office Situation

foundinlv — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:26:40 GMT

I once worked for a cell phone company and sat in a large room of cubicles while answering the phone. The people who sat to my left and right were great and I seldom was distracted by either but the guy who sat diagonally across was another story. When someone gives out incorrect information to a customer like he did all the time, I heard it all loud and clear. It was extremely annoying and distracted me to the point of having a conference with my boss....move me or listen in to his calls and see for yourself that he's an imbecile.

Re: Office Situation

foundinlv — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:27:50 GMT

@151949 wrote:
Being a nurse I have never had an office to work in. I have always had to do all my work sitting at a desk in the main hallway outside my patient's room, had to listen to the monitors beeping , the ventilator noises etc etc plus the constant phone ringing and other people's conversations. Not to mention constant interruptions by patient call lights and families and doctors interrupting every thought, and almost constantly having co workers asking for assistance tp lift or turn someone. I would have thought a cubicle with just one other person was a dream come true.

I always noticed that whenever I was in a hospital. You women are amazing!!!!!!!

Re: Office Situation

Moonchilde — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:37:00 GMT

Introverts have to develop their own individual coping skills over time.

For most of my working life I have had a profession I could do in complete silence plugged in to earphones, working in my own little vacuum. One of the reasons I decided on the profession was because of this.

Not quite 20 years ago, things changed drastically in the healthcare industry and if I wanted to remain employed, I had to adapt. For the last 17 years I have struggled with being interrupted by phones (that I have to break my concentration to answer), loud conversations in my immediate vicinity, and working in a cubied-but-open office with a dozen other people, all speaking at any given miment - and STILL being expected to perform the concentration-required part of my job quickly and without error. You learn to shut things out. And you plan retirement 😸

Re: Office Situation

Goldengate8361 — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:49:08 GMT

Buy a big pair of headphones. There's really no other answer. You'll need to develop an understanding with your cube mate.

Re: Office Situation

ladyroxanne — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 01:03:57 GMT

you say you are sharing a cubicle with another person and have shared an office with people before. pretend you are in an office and just get on with your job! forget about everything else.

Re: Office Situation

RainyDayGal — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 04:38:08 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
There seem to be two issues you have brought forward - privacy and productivity.

As far as privacy, IMO the workplace isn't appropriate for private/family cell conversations. Do those in the hall, outside or in the bathroom, or at lunch, not throughout the workday. Chances are you cubie-mate isn't going to pay any more attention to you than you will to him.

OMG Whatever you do please do NOT make personal calls in the bathroom. Even if you start out alone chances are you won't be alone for long. I think that is just about the rudest thing people do at work!

Re: Office Situation

Moonchilde — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 05:05:59 GMT

@RedConvertibleGirl wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
There seem to be two issues you have brought forward - privacy and productivity.

As far as privacy, IMO the workplace isn't appropriate for private/family cell conversations. Do those in the hall, outside or in the bathroom, or at lunch, not throughout the workday. Chances are you cubie-mate isn't going to pay any more attention to you than you will to him.

OMG Whatever you do please do NOT make personal calls in the bathroom. Even if you start out alone chances are you won't be alone for long. I think that is just about the rudest thing people do at work!

In my work situation, the bathrooms are unisex and one person only.

Re: Office Situation

chrystaltree — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:52:49 GMT

It is not trivial, it's a major adjustment. No one can help you with this, it's too personal. I think eventually, you will figure out what works for you. It will take time and it things won't always go smoothly. First, stop comparing this new office situation. The past is over, it's dead weight. Let it go. Right now, just focus on the work and stop thinking about real estate. As long as you have the basics. Desk, phone, computer etc etc. Set up your desk the way you want it, so that you feel comfortable. Forget about privacy. There is none in situations like that. If you must make a personal phone, take your cell phone and find a private place. Ladies room, empty conference room, hallway, out by the loading dock. You'll have to be creative. It will take a few months but eventually, you will acclimate and you and your office mate will get to know each other and adjust. Remember!!!!!! You are the new person now and how you act and relate to people will affect your acceptance into this new "community". You do not want to be perceived as being a pushy or difficult person. You need the good will of the people you work with. I would not suggest that you tune out so early in the game. You want to be approachable now. It's a new situation, accept it. Don t see problems where none exist.

Re: Office Situation

Meowingkitty — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:49:56 GMT

Our office did that several years ago and I hated it. Got laid off 18 months ago and couldn't be happier. Anyway, in our office while we didn't share cubes we were stuffed in cubes so small you had to move your chair into the walkway just to open the drawers to your desk. We could hear everything and there was no getting away from it. Corporate America seems to think that all this working in an open air office is great. The younger generation loves it but then again they are used to sharing everything so nothing is private. The boss didn't want headphones so the best we could do was the radio on low. We knew about the woman two rows away and her love life, the woman next to me and all her drama, the other woman and her son. It was so toxic.

Sometimes the conversations got to be pretty interesting. We had this one manager who would ask new people if they could be a muppet which one would they be. I am serious. Pretty funny stuff at times. I never got used to it. I like my quiet work environment and this was just the opposite. I say if you can get some headphones. Just make sure if you are like me to keep your conversations quiet. You don't want others knowing your business.

Re: Office Situation

faeriemoon — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:02:17 GMT

I didn't know it was possible to share a cubicle.

Re: Office Situation

151949 — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:18:07 GMT

Ok - I don't understand why anyone would NEED to make phone calls from the office that are so personal and private! If I had personal business that was that personal that no one must overhear it, I would wait til my lunch break and go make that call outside. After all, you are there to work , not to be doing personal business.Personal phone calls werre absolutely forbidden anywhere I have ever worked.

Re: Office Situation

missy1 — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:03:08 GMT

It really comes down to the OP needing the job. If you need the income you put up with it or adjust until you find a new one.

It's not about making personal phone calls. It's hard to talk to clients on the phone/get work done when others are listening. Not sure what type of job the Op has.

Did the Op know she would be sharing the small office cublicle, before accepting the

job?

I like my personal space, so this job would not be a good fit for me. If I needed a job badly, i would try to adjust.

I wouldn't wear headphones etc. Then it shows you are not part of the team.

I hope the Op adjusts.

Re: Office Situation

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:14:51 GMT

@151949 wrote:
Ok - I don't understand why anyone would NEED to make phone calls from the office that are so personal and private! If I had personal business that was that personal that no one must overhear it, I would wait til my lunch break and go make that call outside. After all, you are there to work , not to be doing personal business.Personal phone calls werre absolutely forbidden anywhere I have ever worked.

Sometimes one might have a medical issue that needs to be addressed.

My doctor's office is closed for lunch at the same time I take my lunch hour so I have to make doctor's appointments during work hours. I am lucky I am in my own private office. But not everyone is in a situation where they can just walk away and make a personal call.