In many different types of workplaces, employees wear earbuds or headphones throughout the day. Should employers allow them to? The answer depends on the employer's industry, as there may be safety concerns and worries about diminished collaboration; but also the possibility that earbuds help workers focus and boost retention.
"As younger generations enter the workforce, it is important for employers to recognize that personal technology device use in the workplace is only going to grow more common. As such, it is important that employers get ahead of the curve when developing policies on the use of technology like earbuds and headphones in their workplace," said Hogan Crosby, an attorney with Adams and Reese in New Orleans.
Safety Concerns
In mechanical, construction and industrial settings, the use of earbuds may limit the employee's ability to hear emergency alerts and be aware of their surroundings, said Dennis Duffy, an attorney with Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Houston. For example, an employee walking in an active construction area may be less able to hear ongoing mechanical equipment or warnings from other employees.
"Distracted working—like distracted driving—increases if the employee is actively using earbuds to hear music or engage in phone calls," Duffy said. "In environments where hearing protection is mandated, earbuds can interfere with the effectiveness of personal protective equipment."
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