I would really love some work-related advice :-)

FellyFabulous
FellyFabulous Posts: 32 Member
edited January 2016 in Chit-Chat
I don't post in the forums often. Since I joined MFP almost a year ago, my posts have been far and few between, and they are usually always weight loss / fitness related. But alas, today, I have had to succumb to the world of message boards because I'm at my wits end and I need advice.

I'm a senior paralegal at my law firm, and I share an office with two girls. I draft motions and declarations all day. When I'm not drafting documents, I'm on the phone with court clerks and police officers. The girls I share an office with are extremely chatty and talk, more than they work. I don't care about that because I can mind my own business, but they are loud! So loud, it's disruptive. I know it seems like a gross exaggeration, but it's true. One of the girls who shared this office was so disruptive that she was moved out to a different desk because my boss got fed up. He is hardly around, so although he is aware of what's going on, he hasn't done much to remedy the situation.

I wear earplugs or headphones, but lately it's gotten to the point that they're so loud I can hear them through my earplugs and it's stressing me out because it's making it hard for me to concentrate. Recently, a Sgt at a police department asked me if I was calling from a party because there was a lot of laughter and chatter in the background. I've asked them to quiet down but they won't. I was told to buy earplugs, or use headphones (all of which I'm doing). I feel that I should add, I feel like I'm about to snap and say something to them that's really rude, but I don't want to be that disgruntled employee. I love my job, and I especially love what I do, but they're making it less enjoyable and I'm now looking for another job because I can't work efficiently and effectively with so much going on in the background. I could ask my boss to move me, or move one of them, but our office is tiny and space is an issue.

ADVICE! How would you handle this situation? Positive comments only please, because negative comments really won't benefit me!

Thanks!

Replies

  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Sheesh and I thought my new cube-mate who sings to himself was annoying. Since it doesn't seem like the bosses care to do anything, what about purchasing noise-cancelling headphones?
  • JeffreyMGiron
    JeffreyMGiron Posts: 3,582 Member
    TBH if you have no other choice, you tried reasoning with them and asking them to quiet down....talk to the superiors...there's really no other choice. I mean you'd hate to be that Person but your paycheck is more important than their conversations.
  • tobywankenobijedimaster
    tobywankenobijedimaster Posts: 262 Member
    If your firm is anything like the one I work at, I'd suggest talking to your HR / Office Manager (some firms have separate people for this) and express your concerns about your work space.

    Since it looks very unprofessional on your firm to have people calling in to a lot of noise, approach it from that standpoint with them and perhaps ask if it might be possible to be moved to a different office space if this has been an ongoing issue (which it sounds like it has been). Make sure you get documentation so that if they refuse and the issue negatively impacts the quality of your work product/firm reputation you have a record of what you did to try to rectify the issue.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    I agree with others. Stress that internal and external clients who call in are commenting about the background noise and that it is very unprofessional. I also agree with documenting your attempts to rectify the situation.
  • joey4014
    joey4014 Posts: 159 Member
    edited January 2016
    Have a friend or three - I mean "clients" call the office and complain.
  • SisterSueGetsFit
    SisterSueGetsFit Posts: 1,211 Member
    I agree with the others. Talk to your HR or boss. It reflects poorly on your company. For the record I've been both the senior paralegal and an office manager/HR contact.
  • FellyFabulous
    FellyFabulous Posts: 32 Member
    joey4014 wrote: »
    Have a friend or three - I mean "clients" call the office and complain.

    Ha! I Iove this. I have actually thought about this. Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll see what I can do during this upcoming week. For the record, my boss is aware. He mentioned that he is not happy about all the side conversations, he just hasn't done anything to correct the issue. Maybe if an outsider complains or raises the issue, he will listen. Thank you!
  • FellyFabulous
    FellyFabulous Posts: 32 Member
    rchlthompson wrote: »
    . It reflects poorly on your company.

    I agree with this so much!

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