Why Music Preferences Can Create Workplace Challenges
Few workplace topics seem as harmless as music, yet it can quickly become a source of disagreement. Musical tastes vary widely, and when employees share a workspace, those differences can create challenges. Don’t believe me? Ask your co-workers what kind of music they like. If their preference is different from yours, you will have an opinion about it.
Many people also like to listen to music while they work (cue “Whistle While You Work”), myself included. One day, many years ago, I was listening to Slayer in my office when one of our managers came in. A driver had backed his truck into the building and smelled like beer – it was termination time. The music was (I darkly thought) appropriate – but of course I turned it off. Some workplace moments do not need a soundtrack.
Because music affects people differently, employers often find themselves balancing individual preferences with operational needs. That balancing act is why many organizations establish guidelines for when, where, and how employees can listen to music at work.
Managing Employee Music Preferences Without Work Conflict
In today’s world, with so many ways of listening to music, many employers have adopted policies, rules, and guidelines about music at work. Some companies have music playing over speakers for all to hear. Think: grocery stores, professional/medical offices, hotels, and coffee shops. This means that employees and customers alike are listening to the same thing whether they like it or not.
Other companies allow employees to listen to their own music in offices with doors that shut, or with headphones. Sometimes these same companies allow headphones as long as one ear is unencumbered. I’ve seen welders with AirPods underneath their earplugs, and plenty of workers with one earbud, walking around the office, restaurant, or sales floor.
The thing is, for many people, music is a panacea on an otherwise stressful day. Music in the background can be soothing, motivating, and help improve focus. For others, it may be annoying or distracting. And not just because your cubicle neighbor is listening to country and you’re an R&B fan. We are not all wired the same, and what works for you may not work for someone else.
Workplace Considerations When Employees Listen to Music
So, what is an employer to do?
Start with the practical stuff: safety, productivity, and respect. Employees still need to hear alarms, equipment, customers, and each other. If the music or the method of listening to it gets in the way, employers may be creating unnecessary risk. Safety-sensitive positions may require stricter limitations on headphone or earbud use than office-based roles.
Then there is the content itself. Your favorite song may be perfectly acceptable in your car and completely wrong for the front desk, break room, or sales floor. If customers or co-workers can hear it, employers have every right to set some boundaries—and those boundaries should apply to everyone, not just the person with the playlist nobody likes.
In fact, back in 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held in Sharp v. S&S Activewear, No. 21-17138 (9th Cir. June 7, 2023), that an employer who allows employees to play offensive music in the workplace can be liable for harassment. In other words, music is not “just background noise” if its content contributes to a hostile or offensive work environment. We need to ensure that what is heard by all is not offensive to some (or all).
Final Thoughts
Music can boost morale, improve concentration, and make the workday more enjoyable. However, like many workplace privileges, it works best when accompanied by good judgment and clear expectations.
Music at work does not have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. A little common sense, a clear policy, and some consideration for the people around you can go a long way. Employees can enjoy the soundtrack to their workday; we just don’t want it to become the main event.
By: Amy Matthews, SPHR
