My friend works for royal mail and is subject constantly to a very loud radio?

Question

He has asked his manager if he will turn it down as it is very stressful adding to the pipe noises, the manager has just said no with no explanation, its constantly on with no let up, it is grinding him into the ground. what can he do?

Answer 1

Wear ear plugs or find a new job. Or maybe get headphones with his own music playing. :)
Or just tell him to "accidentally" spill something on the radio or cut the plug on it.

Answer 2

Ask the manager once more nicely together with anyone else who finds it annoying. Perhaps come up with a compromise - he can have it on only not as loud or he can have it on for one hour and off for another. Maybe the manager could invest in an MP3 player if there are a lot of people who object.

If your friend tries the nice approach first and still gets nowhere, this manager must have a manager and I would suggest that this person is approached more formally which should get the required response. So long as your friend keeps his cool and remains calm, it is not an unreasonable request and he has tried his hardest to come to a compromise.

If your friend is a member of a union, they may be able to give some advice or perhaps a member of staff responsible for health and safety.

Answer 3

This is a very poor Manager, that seems more intent on his own job that the health of the co-workers. Loud noises all day long ,whether it be a radio or white noise can be very stressful.
A good Manager will and should listen to complaints especially ones regarding the working environment, Then take appropriate action .
The only thing to do is go over this turds head. And complain to top management.

Answer 4

I used to work for the Royal Mail. I used to find that having the radio on in the morning used to wake me up. However, not always, it depended which radio station was on, some are pitifully grinding, so I well understand your friend's plight.

The only thing I can think of is suggest that the station is changed, even just sometimes, you can pick some pretty good stuff up early morning at the weekends still, it makes a change.

What am I talking about 'makes a change'? It's a horrible job, same thing every day, you never win against the endless white and manilla tide of envelopes... tell your friend to get a new job, that one will rot his brain!!! GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

Answer 5

Quite apart from the other answers 'offered' here, there are a number of ways of dealing with the situation.

1 - The playing of a radio - beyond ones ''Personal Use'' (I can't think of the right wording, but 'Factory' or 'Public Place' may well be used in it), the person responsible for it playing is subject to certain restrictions and 'Broadcasting Laws.' These I believe not only requires a 'Licence,' but is also subject to 'Performing Rights' restrictions ~ meaning that the person ought to be paying the Copyright Owner for EACH piece of music played, a fee.

Obviously, per record, per hour, per days of the week and per month, this amount can very easily MOUNT UP ~ very quickly. And the Body who oversees this area will pursue AND will pursue through the Courts the moneys owed by the miscreant.

2 - The Union can be called in to help out with situations like this....

3 - The used to be a Body called 'Factory Inspectors' (under the aegis of the Office, Shops & Railway Premises Act) whom I assume would have been replaced by the Health & Safety Officers, who can be called upon over such various matters.

4 - There solicitors who specialise in this area and I believe can be consulted for Free ~ for a specified period, and where advice can be initially obtained.

The Manager has 'specific' obligations to those employed under his 'Managerial' position. If s/he is failing in them, then the consequences can be 'awkward' and repercussions felt.

Personally, I can appreciate how your friend feels and how remarks like 'get a life' or 'get another job' are not 'Thee 'Correct Answers' nor Helpful to this persons situation.

I hope this helps.
Sash.

Answer 6

I would think that this is a worker health and safety issue. prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. He needs to do something about it. Start local, and escalate to higher levels until he gets this taken care of.

Can he go over the manager's head, and complain to the manager's boss?

Is he a member of a labor union that can help him?

You sound like you're in the UK - I don't know what agencies or ministries would deal with this. I would search for workplace health organizations, or whatever is the equivalent to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration - OSHA.

If nothing else, look into hearing protection - noise blocking ear muffs, maybe like the ones that shooters use, or the foam ear plugs that you compress and insert, and they swell up inside the ear canal.

Answer 7

If the noise is generally wanted by others, the manager is not playing it just to be vindictive, and the volume is within safety limits....then he can either wear earplugs or get a new job.

Could he not look for other internal jobs that get him out in the vans or walking or on a bike.

Answer 8

royal mail has several layers of managers.....the lowest level is officially called a manager, but is, in effect, not much more than a factory foreman. They are not really trained to deal with health and safety issues.........therefore, you friend should lodge his complaint with a union rep (who should make sure it is dealt with by the correct person) or try going for a higher level of management.
He will probably find it easier to talk to a union rep.

Answer 9

Contact the local Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Answer 10

Here in the U.S. intolerable noise levels in the work place would be considered a health hazard. If that is the case in your country, your friend should report it. If there is no law, perhaps one should be enacted. I wish there was a law against extreme levels of boom boxes and rocket blasting tailpipes. The general public seems to be held hostage to them.