RTO Cacophony

[Anonymous]

So the worst part of RTO, from a productivity perspective, is that we have all returned to office in our cubicle farms and open offices, but now everyone takes their meetings at their desk on Zoom — sometimes on speakerphone but at the very least we hear the in person participant speaking.

There is so much noise in my office now, and I can’t wear noise blocking headphones all day, my head and ears hurt.

Please, take your call to a conference room, or at least for all that is holy, not on speakerphone

[Anonymous]

My agency doesn't have any extra offices or conference room so I have no choice but to put my whole work life on blast. I no longer care if everyone has to hear me gossip or get a talking to from my supervisor. Have a problem with it? Go find remote work somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

We are encouraged to have our meetings in person now. It's actually kind of nice, especially for team meetings because people chat more. I wouldn't want that in every meeting, but it's helped give a sense of camaraderie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are encouraged to have our meetings in person now. It's actually kind of nice, especially for team meetings because people chat more. I wouldn't want that in every meeting, but it's helped give a sense of camaraderie.

That’s all well and good, but even one person meetings where you speak a lot, please find an enclosed space!!

[Anonymous]

I feel like a lot of non-public information is compri.ised because I am on my call then someone near me is speaking loudly on their call and the person on my call hears it. They set it up this way so I assume it is intentional.

[Anonymous]

You say headphones hurt you, but we can't be on speakerphone, so we have to wear headphones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You say headphones hurt you, but we can't be on speakerphone, so we have to wear headphones?

OP is the type of person who would tap you on the shoulder and ask you to stop speaking loudly into your headset. You can't ever win so might as well use speakerphone until management puts you in an office.

[Anonymous]

We have actual offices. But there is no sound barrier between walls. We are not provided headphones. All our calls have people from different locations. I have no choice but to take them from my desk on speaker phone; it is my job. Yes, I do see that it lowers productivity by a lot. But that seems to be what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You say headphones hurt you, but we can't be on speakerphone, so we have to wear headphones?

They hurt to wear for the ENTIRE DAY just to block out other peoples conversations.

People should be able to wear them for the 4 hours of meetings they have; if they have more than that, then you are a manager and have an office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You say headphones hurt you, but we can't be on speakerphone, so we have to wear headphones?

They hurt to wear for the ENTIRE DAY just to block out other peoples conversations.

People should be able to wear them for the 4 hours of meetings they have; if they have more than that, then you are a manager and have an office.

I don't want to converse with people, but it's a job requirement. And yes, headphones hurt me as well, so no, I will not wear them to spare you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have actual offices. But there is no sound barrier between walls. We are not provided headphones. All our calls have people from different locations. I have no choice but to take them from my desk on speaker phone; it is my job. Yes, I do see that it lowers productivity by a lot. But that seems to be what they want.

+1. We can't help that we're at the office, same as you, OP. Take your hostility out on the people that deserve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have actual offices. But there is no sound barrier between walls. We are not provided headphones. All our calls have people from different locations. I have no choice but to take them from my desk on speaker phone; it is my job. Yes, I do see that it lowers productivity by a lot. But that seems to be what they want.

Can't you get headphones and expense? It's 2025- a speaker phone is so obnoxious. I would be irate if you had me on speakerphone, nevermind if I had to listen to it in the office.

[Anonymous]

Luckily at my agency we all have our own offices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are encouraged to have our meetings in person now. It's actually kind of nice, especially for team meetings because people chat more. I wouldn't want that in every meeting, but it's helped give a sense of camaraderie.

How do you do that when only a few people are at your location and you work for a global company? Even your supervisor is cross country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have actual offices. But there is no sound barrier between walls. We are not provided headphones. All our calls have people from different locations. I have no choice but to take them from my desk on speaker phone; it is my job. Yes, I do see that it lowers productivity by a lot. But that seems to be what they want.

Can't you get headphones and expense? It's 2025- a speaker phone is so obnoxious. I would be irate if you had me on speakerphone, nevermind if I had to listen to it in the office.

“Expense” like that isn’t allowed in the government - I can’t just spend taxpayer money myself.