should Americans be able to watch TV at work?

Question

...If the job is boring and it doesn't get in the way of their work, why not?
In the old days, say at a gas station cashier, hotel desk clerk, factory floor, assembly line, the employees might of had a small TV on the counter and nobody would've cared at all. Now if i wanted to do that, my boss would probably throw a hissy fit and NO WAY. It seems this way to me and shows how UPTIGHT AND WORRIED OR PARANOID we've become.

one of the arguments is why should he pay you to watch tv? They shouldn't be mutually exclusive. I think you can "work" and still get your "work" done on time in good quality. TV keeps you alert and happy. making you more productive right?

oops
I think you can "work" and still get your "work" done on time in good quality

i meant I think you can watch TV and still get your "work" done on time in good quality.

Answer 1

I think it should only be okay when you're in a job where you have lots of downtime and don't have to be productive all the time... on an assembly line I think it'd be much too distracting! Music is fine, but if you're *watching* something, whenever it gets interesting/funny/exciting, you're going to slow down or stop your work, that's just a normal reaction....

At many other places you should be able to find something to do but there are also some jobs, like desk clerk, where perhaps the boss doesn't want you to leave the desk to clean up or do odd jobs; then if you have lots of time you're just sitting around I think a tv would be okay.

Answer 2

I've never once had a job, even a boring one, where I could watch TV! And I've had some very boring jobs. I worked in a shoe factory, a bulk mail factory and a store where there were days no one came in. Some of the jobs you mentioned (like gas stations) were sole proprietorships and if you own your own business you can do whatever the hell you want. If you work for someone else it just isn't like that. Even a boring job is still a job so why do you think you should be vegging out while you get paid? Work is work. If you're getting paid you do what they want you to do no matter how stupid it may seem to you.

Answer 3

To be on the side of the bosses for a moment. You get paid to work, what ever kind of work it is, weather it is boring or not, you are paid to be there. You are not paid to be there to watch TV, If at sometime you have nothing to do then FIND something to do.

But then again I work the midnight shift at a hotel and have a computer a tv and a LOT of time to sleep and read and do most of what I want.

Answer 4

Depends on the job. There are 2 TVs and a radio going on at the same time and everything gets done.

Answer 5

It's up to your boss... the company put him in charge of you and the company pays you. If he says dance in a skirt and eat Spam to get paid then that's what you do... that or quit.

Then you can put your resume on the web and be sure to mention your employer must allow TV watching. That should get you plenty of offers.

Answer 6

No wonder all of the illegals are taking jobs! You are there to do a job. You have a job to pay the electric bill so you can watch TV.

Answer 7

I think it really depends on the distraction factor. We watch tv at work if we are not really busy and in slow moments, it helps time pass more quickly.

I think tv has become so controversial that employers fear liability for things beings said on tv in their business that they would rather not tackle the issue at all.

Answer 8

Why should your boss pay for you to watch tv? There are other things you can do at work while its the slow period ie. Organising paperwork and cleaning.Sometimes having the radio on in the background is ok.

Answer 9

Must be nice to have a job where you have enough time to watch TV.

Answer 10

for jobs with a lot of down time, yes, i don't see a problem with that at all... as long as the volume is muted when a customer approaches.

as long as customer service is still top notch, there should be no problem.