Since I've worked at the place I am at now, we have not be able to have radios in the shop. They allow them in the burr shop, in the assembly dept., and in offices. But not in the shop. Of course we as a collective have asked several times, and are always turned down. Too much of a distraction they say.

Just curious if how many shops do or don't allow radios.

I am...... but then I own the place :D

need an employee? ;)

For years we couldn't have radios because they said it caused too many problems with everyone playing different stations. It was an old policy and they wouldn't change it ..period... then we were bought out by a large corporation and the new CEO said we could have them and its not been an issue...I guess the ruling has to come from the top ... our HR department is very unwilling to change anything ..but if the boss says its ok then they go along with it
M

We cannot have radios in the shop but, I have been wearing a small headphone set under my protective hearing headset. It is connected to an MP3 player. The boss has not caught on yet. :)

from what I heard, it was similar to marx911s situation, but they decided on a station and play only that one.

Jon

I can have radio in my shop, but like Ken said, I own it.
The knot in my knickers comes because I'm in a valley and can only get one a.m. station. CDs and mp3s to the rescue :)

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
“It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged.”
- - Abraham Lincoln, 16th U. S. President

As the saying goes, My shop, My Rules:})

Since I own my own shop we have radio blasted in the different areas. Some times two or three at a time. We don't get regular radio up here in the woods so I have satalite internet and we have internet radio. Beats the static and the commercials. If that aint working so good I have a media server with all my cds ripped to the harddrive. 10,000+ songs cycling around in random is kinda nice too.

Donny

www.whiterivermfg.com

In my shop I got everyone into Radio2, but when the beeb got rid of JY who was on after the ken bruce show nobody could stumoch Jerermy Vine. (he is fine on telly but he drives you nuts with his interview technique on the radio) so then my guys started to listen to Radio1, but this i hated with a passion, especiallay the news which treats you with the same intelegence as the average drugged up teenager, this was(almost as) worse than Jerermy Vine !
So I then brought in my DAB Radio and now we have Virgin Radio on all the time, but it really needs an external amp and speakers as full volume dosn't to Queen and Cold Play justice.
I guess I'll have to cut my staff's xmas bonus and by one !

Cheers

Tricky
*********Now taking on staff in the Norwich area ! both expert and trainee ********

Weekend shifts are good for something , while the boss is away the dogs can play
the radio runs all weekend.

I manage a small (<30) shop, and the owner REFUSES to allow radios.
However... I let night shift blast away, and I pull out the BIG boom box on Saturdays and Sundays... If we have to give up our lives, then we should be allowed to enjoy ourselves in the process!

When I was an employee on the shop floor I found it calming to have background music playing while I was making metal shapes. Now as a business owner, I would never deny my employees of the same right. All bosses should understand that their employees are their best asset and to deny them of the simple pleasures, so long as they are not exploiting them, is only hurting your business. Radios, heaters, after work beer and monthly BBQ's work for my guy's.

Hey Dave I feel much the same and am in the same situation and i put in a stereo thats volume controlled at different areas as some runnning louder machines want it louder and the ones needing to think and concentrate want it quieter. Other than that the only problems i run into is that people group into music types and try for that station. Not much of a problem really. Keep them happy and productive however you can. Be Safe Best of luck

I've been in shops with and without radios. It's been my experience that if you have a small shop without many visitors it's great. As stated above, whatever you can do to make it better for the employees, do it. However, when you start getting into larger shops with larger working areas it can be a problem. Usually these are the type of shops that have frequent visitors coming in and it always seems like someones favorite song comes on the radio so they crank it! It doesn't make a good impression, especially if you are bring around a prospective customer to have radio's blasting, or competitions for a different station going on. This can be controlled by employee discipline but now you defeat what you were trying to accomplish in the first place. I think you are better off without them in a larger shop environment at least on the day shift. Once the boss goes home, as long as the shop stays productive, works for me. I work in a fairly large job shop and do miss the music and talk. The owner dictated the no radio policy for the shop floor based on a situation described above. Since I have an office, I could have a radio if I chose to, but I feel funny having a perk that my guys can't have. If you have radio's now, don't take it for granted and don't abuse the privledge, and it is a privledge!

Most of the time I have my internet radio playing through to the shop area. Since its my shop, no one complains. ;)

Interesting to read the various opinions. My guys play two or three different radios; pisses me off because they won't play the stations I like but I guess that's my fault for being too damned old. Years ago the old fart I worked for didn't like radios I don't plan on being like him.

Well, started a new job and they allow radios! Woohoo. :D Too bad I can't change my vote.

They allow radios where I work, but it has to have a 3 prong plug.

My shop allows radios, there would be a mass mutiny if we werent allowed them. You can always tell when the machinist is in, country being blasted over hard rock and crap. lol

I have been tortured for years putting up with noise (excuse me ..radios) from co-workers each trying to drown out others with THEIR favorite station. To really concentrate...to hear the grinder kissing the workpiece at .00005 (no readouts) above the din of noise was frustrating.

NOW is payback since I have my own shop....I am forcing tha whole shop to listen to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc. and if they don't like it ...well there's the door.

I don't work or own a shop, but I order CNC parts from time to time, last time I took a small video with my PDA of the part being done.

The part is not important in this thread, but listen to the background noises! There are 7 CNC machines, and each operator cranking a different station, Total Caos :)

But they did a good job for me, so no complaints :)

http://peu.net/temp/neoca_tailcap_video.zip


Pablo

I have found this radio rule to work: Where one sound system is allowed, anyone is allowed to change the station or the volume. If it is changed more than twice in any five minute period it gets shut off for an hour.
Individual radios (headsets) are allowed on a case-by-case basis.

we have doen both, for a time there were no radios allowed, but found that the machinists would burn out faster, with music in the background they were able to concentrate longer on the setups. control of the volume is required.
no headphones allowed.

There's only me that machines at our place (20 employees) so I'm kinda all on my ownsome in my lab all day- I'd go nuts without my radio.

However, setting up the machine can take a day or two and involves lots of heavy maths with equations that I've seen PhD's confused over so I have it off then. I also switch it off if visitors are in or the boss wants a word about a quote or something, I think that's just respectful.

But one the Big Sums are done, it's just a case of button pushing and gets kinda boring without the radio :)

I used to work for the major manufacturer in Seattle. No radios and no reading materials allowed. Some of the part we ran took as long as 20 hours. One shift would change the part on the machine and the other 2 would just sit there all shift and watch. I lasted 3 weeks and went back to the small shop.

I built a new shop in Feb. THe guys were elated they all brought in boom boxes etc. At first the biggest box made the most noise but as time has past the noise has toned down. MP3s have taken over and there is peace. I personally do not like anything that detracts for my comunication with the machine. I have been machining since 1969 and if you know what to listen for the machine will let you know what it likes.

We have allowed headset radios,mp3s etc. for the past 20+ years. Before that individual radios caused some irratation. Mainly with a former partner. He thought his constant annoying whistling was great but our music sucked. Whats worse than working next to a nervous guy whistling show tunes?Anyway, the headset radios have been fine. We've had far less mistakes from guys listening to their radio than guys talking to each other because they are bored. With the newer open air headphones I can hear the machines fine.

... With the newer open air headphones I can hear the machines fine....

Can you provide more information such as a weblink? Thank you

Can you provide more information such as a weblink? Thank you
I mainly meant the light foam type that sit on the ear as opposed to the old fashioned type that try to seal around your whole ear. I try to keep the radio volume low enough not to drown out all the machine noise yet still hear the radio ok. You kind of learn to tune in to certain sounds in the background and still hear the radio. AM radio is tough around CNC machines but FM is usually OK

At the shop i work at, we are allowed to have radios. And also some of us have tv's, the owner dont really care i dont think, as long as you dont crash his machines, make production, and make good parts. LOL now i never miss an episode of CSI.

Jon

as my wise teacher once said - "when you listen to fast music you work faster"

JoSh

They pipe in some music no one likes. Too many differnt tastes to allow seperate radios, it would sound like a warzone. would be nice if they all allowed earpeice mp3players, though.

I own my one man shop, so I allow myself anything I want. But in general I don't have one since I work with the acoustical properties of wood I have to be able to listen very closely to the wood as I'm working with it.

I have worked in both enviroments. Although I like and allow radios in the shop, I have seen people in other shops go to blows over differing tastes, and volumes.

watching a cnc all the day, sure, we are allowed radios , cds, newspapers, books etc. That is, as long the machine runs and parts are beeing made. Personally i prefer to hear how the machine works, in case of tool failure, or worn out tools.

Initially I'll just be by myself so I'll try both ways and decide what I prefer. If I take on some employees in the future, I'll decide then.....health & safety might dictate no earpieces. Might block out the noise of some poor sod screaming for help as he gets dragged into the lathe!

All depend on who I work for. Some allow radios and some don't. Most have too many comments on my choice of tunes and they don't like keeping to themselves. I my own shop I play music but at a low volume when working on the Lathe and Mill. To High of a Volume tends to trip the circuit braker :D As luck would have it I used too crank the tunes, now with the A/C on and an electrician not comming till next month low is better than none.
Not to mention I like to listen to the cutters. ;)

I have worked in both enviroments. Although I like and allow radios in the shop, I have seen people in other shops go to blows over differing tastes, and volumes.
i think one radio is ok but when everybody starts to use there radio and pump there volume because they dont want to ear the other radio then it becomes a problem

As the only person in my lab, I can play music (usually loudly) but always turn it down/off when someone comes in. A few years ago I had a 200 watt Kenwood receiver with Celection speakers in my room, but then I worked alone...
The key in a large shop is to have one station playing per day at a preset volume. It makes a big difference in the work environment to have the background music and any boss who denies it on some sort of groundless principle is a fool.

On my shift there are 6 Matsuura machining center in one area for 3 guys.We take turns of 1-2 hours with the choice of music. Last night just for the fun of it.After reading this thread early in the day. I put on a gospel cd (That I borrowed from a friend as I would never buy one, let alone own one) and cranked it. I think the whole shop was happy when my hour was up.

On my shift there are 6 Matsuura machining center in one area for 3 guys.We take turns of 1-2 hours with the choice of music. Last night just for the fun of it.After reading this thread early in the day. I put on a gospel cd (That I borrowed from a friend as I would never buy one, let alone own one) and cranked it. I think the whole shop was happy when my hour was up.


Yea!!!!!!! What tunes do you normally play Mike? Anything I'd like?

We have them all over the place. Some guys have some pretty expensive ones too. On the weekends, when the office people are gone, the place rocks!

Anything goes at my place of employ...KBW goes down well for the adult audience :)

We also have them in the office...just not as loud.

we are allowed radio's,Ipods just about anything really.I have been at griner for only 4months and although not as laidback as my last job of 7yrs.They treat us as adults and we have freedom.I just put all my songs on my pc by my cnc cells.At my last job they let me have a 13" tv.But they gave me a dell precision m60 laptop here and that is a nice perk!

Radios? To noisy we're allowed personal stereo's microwaves, toasters, kettles or coffee makers. I love working here

i personaly own my shop now so yeah im spoiled,..but i have found that in the past in other shops,..they can be a distraction if your changing cds or the station all the time but otherwise the people without radios on the floor,..arent as happy as others working there,..and thell spend un counted hours trying to get around that one little rule or alwyas wasting time complaining about.. n the long run i say let them have there music and enjoy themsleves,....if someons happy going to work there gona be aot more productive if there unhappy there...

we are allowed radio's,Ipods just about anything really.I have been at griner for only 4months and although not as laidback as my last job of 7yrs.They treat us as adults and we have freedom.I just put all my songs on my pc by my cnc cells.At my last job they let me have a 13" tv.But they gave me a dell precision m60 laptop here and that is a nice perk!

Where do we send our Resume's for that job???????:D

One caveat for anyone thinking about XM in the shop....audio quality. It SUCKS!!!!

At low levels, like in an elevator, it's just fine. If you're like me though, and like to crank it up if you're in the shop alone late at night and you have a good quality sound system (we do), you'll find that it's like listening to music through a high quality telephone. honest.

There's no shimmering highs, no presence, no transparency, and....well...it's like listening to poor quality MP3s. And that presumes you think MP3s can sound good.

XM is great because if you like a wide variety of programming, but don't get excited if you're hoping for anything close to audiophile...it's not even close.

I dont have radio in my shop, but non of my guys have ever asked me for it.

I dont have radio in my shop, but non of my guys have ever asked me for it.

would you say yes if they did ask?

My shop is just my (developing) small hobby shop. However, as far as radios go, I do have one in there, but it's volume (or the tv's) is in inverse proportion to the difficulty of the task at hand. I find that with more mechanical tasks, higher volume isn't a problem for me. Whether I'm on a remodeling job or in my shop, if someone comes by to visit, as a curtesy the volume goes way down. At the 3-man machine shop I worked at the owner would pipe in 'contemporary' tunes from the stereo in his office, low enough so we hear each other and the machines. The distraction for me was the place was almost always filled with smoke, no, not cigarette smoke!

would you say yes if they did ask?

Well prabably not cause my guys all listen to different stuff, now if i could get them to listen to just one station they could all agree on and it be played from just one radio i would consicer. or i guess i could just make them listen to what i like, LOL

Sounds like heaven.

Of course being the twisted sob I am I would wonder if I changed the composer would I get more or better work from my staff. Rather like restaurants who play up tempo music when they start to become full :-)

Pavlovs dog by playing the same music 5 minutes before closing for months and then playing that tune an hour after closing time. Free overtime!

I do sometimes wonder why they never make me the manager?

...Of course being the twisted sob I am I would wonder if I changed the composer would I get more or better work from my staff. Rather like restaurants who play up tempo music when they start to become full :-)

Pavlovs dog by playing the same music 5 minutes before closing for months and then playing that tune an hour after closing time. Free overtime!

Look up the Hawthorne effect :) A psych study done eons ago that used lighting.....

Why is it that Radio Stations Play the same songs at the exact same time everyday. They load a bunch of CD's and pretend to be Disk Jockeys all day.

What Gives??????:confused:

Yes at work we can have a radio at our work stations at a lower volume but me im my own little router room, and my office so i have XM radio via a computer hook up in my office so im at work on here plus with radio set up even sub lol love working here.

we can have a radio, but it cannot be too load and due to all the electrical interference, only a few channels come in, so it that or nothing. If you don't like what is playing, put your earplugs in a little deeper... LOL...

I've been an employe five places now, and there where always some kind of radio, either personal or a on common system.
Currently i'm the youngest at the shop, and therefor have to listen to the otherones taste, but just waite rock will never die:bat:

Why is it that Radio Stations Play the same songs at the exact same time everyday. They load a bunch of CD's and pretend to be Disk Jockeys all day.

What Gives??????:confused:

I have to agree that is so true after a few times you can set your watch by it. plus they will over play the good songs. Well at least thats how i feel.

i have internet on my computer i can have a radio online station

ya same i have xm and my own mp3s but wow even xm repeats i have found it just take like 2 days. sucks

mine is playing right now!!
I have a 200W system with a cd player........for the whole shop.
I tell everyone to bring there favorite cds and we all share the music.
It's great fun hearing other peoples stuff.
But no Hip Hop............I'm kinda old!

The Owner Bought Me A I-pod When I Started, So I Rock All Day Long On What I Want To Hear, Other Employees Have Their Own And Everyoneis Happy. We Just Respect Each Other Turn Them Off When Someone Is Talking To You. I Can Still Hear The Machines Running.

We are allowed to have mp3/radio's as long as we are wearing headphones.