Do you wear headphones at work? Is that weird? Forum

[yogotti]

y'all are aspie about everything, huh? I am at an insurance defense firm, do it all the time, and assumed it was nbd. One of the partners commented, but it was more like, I should try that too. I leave the door open, put one bud in so I am not totally unaware of surroundings, and work on discovery (probably doc review type work from what I can tell.

Btw, gen Xer not millenial here.

[gk101]

I wouldn't do it as a summer or a stub year. beyond that, you should be able to figure out your firm culture

[SLS_AMG]

It's not a big deal, but it just looks unprofessional. Also, it's the type of habit that is very easy to break. And it just reinforces negative stereotypes that boomer partners already have about millennials.

I think the issue has more to do with the fact that you appear to be disengaged rather than actually being disengaged. If I see someone wearing headphones, I assume (even if incorrectly) that they are listening at a volume that would make hearing the phone or a knock at the door impossible. I'd almost consider playing piano/elevator/instrumental music at a very low level through computer speakers to be more acceptable, because at least what you're listening to is out in the open.

But you do you.

[SLS_AMG]

lol @ this "profession"

This is just a dumb comment that goes to show how insufferable lawyers are. Virtually any profession that TLS posters idolize on a daily basis would also frown at wearing headphones at work.

[lymenheimer]

It's not a big deal, but it just looks unprofessional. Also, it's the type of habit that is very easy to break. And it just reinforces negative stereotypes that boomer partners already have about millennials.

I think the issue has more to do with the fact that you appear to be disengaged rather than actually being disengaged. If I see someone wearing headphones, I assume (even if incorrectly) that they are listening at a volume that would make hearing the phone or a knock at the door impossible. I'd almost consider playing piano/elevator/instrumental music at a very low high level through computer speakers to be more acceptable, because at least what you're listening to is out in the open.

But you do you.

I like this idea, but with general music instead (edit/disclaimer: don't actually listen to this song loudly at work):

[+] Spoiler

[youtube]aDoatofoPOI[/youtube]

[kellyfrost]

What I have gathered from TLS members is that it probably isn't a good idea to chew tobacco in the office and it isn't a good idea to listen to headphones while working. You certainly don't want to chew tobacco while listening to headphone while working.

[cookiejar1]

Listen, OP, wearing headphones at work is as bad as coming to work wearing literally any other shoe that is not AE. And I trust that I don't need to remind you that not wearing AE shoes is a guaranteed no offer.

[Anonymous User]

It depends on where you're sitting. As a summer I did this and a partner told me on day one it doesn't look good - it looks like you're playing video games. Obviously this was BS but the partners are the bosses and it's like working retail in that if you're told to fold things in a certain way you fold them in that way. On my current floor people don't care what you do. I wouldn't say this in real life, but my gut feeling is the more diverse the person, the less likely they are to care about anything other than work product. People never say this about boomers, but in addition to having a different perspective, they also came up in an age where you did everything A, B, C with less room for individuality.

[Anonymous User]

I can't believe the answer to the drinking at your desk after 5 question last week was yes and the answer about headphones is no. What a weird job.

[gk101]

I can't believe the answer to the drinking at your desk after 5 question last week was yes and the answer about headphones is no. What a weird job.

Do not do this as a summer

[Lincoln]

Most of these responses are so far removed from my firm (which is generally considered super stuffy and formal) that I would recommend seeing what other people do in the first few days, and maybe ask your associate mentor/buddy. Just stick with what's normal at your firm and you'll be fine.

[BigZuck]

This thread might be the Legal Employment subforum at its finest.

Mods please sticky and lock, it's not going to get much better than this.

[Anonymous User]

I can't believe the answer to the drinking at your desk after 5 question last week was yes and the answer about headphones is no. What a weird job.

Do not do this as a summer

Oh no, I am not planning on drinking at my desk as a summer or as a new attorney or pretty much in any context other than a partner offering me a drink. Thanks for the concern though. I just thought when I opened the drinking thread people would unanimously tell the person, "No, you're crazy, you can't drink at work" and with the headphones thread, "Of course, why would anyone care?" I realize in the former the person was a midlevel associate and in in this thread we are talking mostly about SAs, but the general tone was just weird to me.

[SFSpartan]

I can't believe the answer to the drinking at your desk after 5 question last week was yes and the answer about headphones is no. What a weird job.

Do not do this as a summer

I realize in the former the person was a midlevel associate and in in this thread we are talking mostly about SAs.

Not sure why the tone of the other thread seems weird, as you seem to grasp the distinction between this thread and the drinking thread. Bottom line - you can do certain things as a mid-level (incl. drinking after 5, wearing headphones and, at some firms, working from home) that are unacceptable as an SA. As an SA an a junior, you probably don't want to do anything that draws negative attention to you. As you move higher up the ladder, people are more willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[glitched]

I put on headphones at team meetings during my SA and no one seemed to mind.

But seriously, just ask the juniors when you get there. They will definitely know best since there is so much variance within markets, firms, and even within groups at the same firm.

[tyroneslothrop1]

I don't wear headphones but I don't do much doc review and find music distracting when doing tasks that require thinking.

[Cogburn87]

lol @ this "profession"

This is just a dumb comment that goes to show how insufferable lawyers are. Virtually any profession that TLS posters idolize on a daily basis would also frown at wearing headphones at work.

No. They don't. They treat you like adults. Stop apologizing for shitty work culture.

[Avian]

My firm also gave everyone headphones. I wore headphones occasionally during the summer and I'm sure partners walked past and saw me at some point. No one ever mentioned anything. I was careful to make sure that I could still hear my phone so that I wouldn't miss a call. You're mostly working on your own assignments, so unless you are chatting with your office-mate (if you even have one), you're just going to be sitting there in silence anyway while working.

I don't think I've ever seen an office where associates routinely work with their door closed unless you're on a call or serious deadline or something. Is that common in your office?

No, I don't know of anyone in my office who works with the door closed. Did something I say make you think that (or were you trying to reply to someone else)? My door was open while using headphones, which is why I assumed partners saw me wearing them when walking by.

[Danny Mothers]

I wear big, ostentatious over the ear headphones every day at my V20. I did so as a summer as well, and my "office" was a converted conference room with a see-through glass door. Nobody cares except for paranoid juniors/law students.

[Glasseyes]

This thread might be the Legal Employment subforum at its finest.

Mods please sticky and lock, it's not going to get much better than this.

I've never felt so good about asking a dumb question before. It's like the opposite of law school

[TLSModBot]

This thread might be the Legal Employment subforum at its finest.

Mods please sticky and lock, it's not going to get much better than this.

I've never felt so good about asking a dumb question before. It's like the opposite of law school

So the consensus is "no one cares and also you will get FIRED"?

[Glasseyes]

This thread might be the Legal Employment subforum at its finest.

Mods please sticky and lock, it's not going to get much better than this.

I've never felt so good about asking a dumb question before. It's like the opposite of law school

So the consensus is "no one cares and also you will get FIRED"?

and the correct answer depends on the size of your balls

[tyroneslothrop1]

Had a biglaw partner teach a class and he informed the class he was unpopular with juniors b/c he didn't like people wearing headphones. Otherwise, he was an interesting and personable guy. I don't believe its accurate to say no one cares. I'd recommend using your eyes and observing what other people are doing.

[BigZuck]

This thread might be the Legal Employment subforum at its finest.

Mods please sticky and lock, it's not going to get much better than this.

I've never felt so good about asking a dumb question before. It's like the opposite of law school

So the consensus is "no one cares and also you will get FIRED"?

4 sure

To be clear, I'm hating the game here, not the player. The question itself is ok (though common sense should dictate what the answer is) but watching CRAVEN COWARD ANONS comment/argue about this is amazing

I hope it goes on for 5 more pages

[Anonymous User]

It's not really a crazy concept - you're at work for approximately 50 days instead of a year. If you're out with someone on a first date, and they burp, you're going to think more of it than if your spouse burps a year into your 3rd or 4th marriage (lawyers get divorced early and often, preferably you should have a separation or at least segue into an open relationship by your midsummer review).