I'm not ignoring you, I need to FOCUS

April 12, 2018 6:09 PM

I asked for and received accommodations -- with a string attached.

I can wear the headphones 24/7 (or 8/40, as it were) but my supervisor is concerned that people will come in the reception area and get the wrong idea (Since I make eye contact, remove the headphones and smile I'm not sure where his worries lie, but.)

You job, should you chose it, is to help me think of a sign I can put on the counter both to explain and make people feel welcome. Supe mentioned "This device medically approved by [company name]" but that seems a bit TMI, not to mention an almost-violation of HIPAA (or an invasion of privacy).

I'm looking forward to your brilliance.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (24 answers total)

Possibly stupid question: Do they have to be headphones? Earbuds are less immediately noticeable by people not wearing them.
posted by rtha at 6:21 PM on April 12, 2018 [6 favorites]

"I can hear you with these headphones - feel free to talk to me!"
posted by saeculorum at 6:22 PM on April 12, 2018 [6 favorites]

I would take the focus off explaining (people don't really care, and like you said, it's an invasion of privacy [though not a HIPAA violation -- that's only if medical professionals share your medical information without your consent]) and move it toward what you actually want people to do.

Welcome! Please ring the bell and we'll be right with you.
Welcome! Please sign in.
Welcome! We'll be with you momentarily.
etc.

What do you want people to do?
posted by lazuli at 6:22 PM on April 12, 2018 [19 favorites]

Transcribing. I'll be right with you. You're not actually transcribing anything, but it gives you a reason to be wearing a headset, and to be cheerful about taking it off. If someone asks what your transcribing, just say I have to review this tape. If they persist, just say boring, but confidential. Many reception staff wear headsets for phones, so I think that once this has been seen to be not a big deal, the sign will be retired.
posted by theora55 at 6:48 PM on April 12, 2018 [60 favorites]

"You're supposed to interrupt me"

"Please talk to me! The headphones are just for focusing."
posted by amtho at 8:10 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

Are headset style headphones suitable for you? Even if you don't keep the mic arm in front of your face, they look hella worky.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 8:21 PM on April 12, 2018 [2 favorites]

Even more nondescript: "Welcome! Please approach desk" should work, if you're confident you'll generally notice people and the sign is really only to let them know that you're available.
posted by praemunire at 8:24 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

Would bone conducting headphones work well enough for your purposes? They're subtle enough people probably wouldn't notice them from a distance.
posted by Candleman at 9:24 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

I would not understand headphones on someone in reception. I would not read a sign. I don't think you can square this. Is there something else than wearing headphones you can devise?

I feel like I missed something important and implicit about your accommodation that should be obvious, such I as a visitor would know it is OK to interrupt you.

What am I missing? That might be what you want to try and express in a sign or some other signal to visitors.
posted by jbenben at 12:29 AM on April 13, 2018 [8 favorites]

There is a lot missing here.
1) What is the workspace like? Busy/Slow? Noisy/Quiet? Crowded/Empty? Open/Enclosed? Welcoming/Intimidating? Formal/Informal?
2) What is the nature of your role? Reception? Administrative?
3) What is the line of business? Creative/Arts? Finance? Law? Medicine? Academic? Governmental?
4) Who do you expect to be greeting? Coworkers? Colleagues from other companies? Customers? Stakeholders?

My general suggestion would be to wear headphones with a mic arm and have a sign that says "Welcome to Company!" as well as a sign on the desk with your name and role on it and a name tag that you wear, so that it is clear to everyone that you are supposed to be at the desk and are in a role that invites interaction.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:55 AM on April 13, 2018 [2 favorites]

If someone asks what *you're* transcribing,
Gahhhh
posted by theora55 at 5:05 AM on April 13, 2018

Many receptionist also wear headsets. If I saw you in a headset, I would know right away that you MIGHT be on a call or listening to something over the device. I would look to your face and words to indicate to me that you were able to greet me, speak, etc. I would be 100% looking for that sort of cue, NOT a sign to read.

So even if you had headphones on, I would still look for and accept facial/eye-contact/verbal cues WAY more than a sign, because I would automatically be looking closely at your face to gauge whether the expected cues were there. Therefore, a sign would very likely be missed because it's YOU I'd be looking at.

If the headphones prevent you from knowing that people have come into your space, and people end up standing around feeling ignored because you didn't see or hear them, then that would be a problem... it would be perceived as rude.

Can you have a bell? A bell, and a "please ring bell for service"- type of situation may work. Perhaps that is the only thing I might register as a legit alternative for the facial acknowledgement thing.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:11 AM on April 13, 2018 [6 favorites]

But I do like the transcribing thing.

It's like "I'm on a webinar" which I am, often, at work and it's a sign I have used in the past. People understand it and don't jump to the rudeness conclusion.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:12 AM on April 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Mod note: From the OP:

I've never tried earplugs, but suspect they would not do the job as co-workers scream and shout. I need to block it completely to do detailed work (and be a receptionist). I was getting tension headaches from trying to block these people out which I am apparently constitutionally incapable of.

In the best of all worlds I wouldn't need headphones. In the best of all worlds my co workers would be considerate and soft spoken, not as if they're yelling across the abyss.In the best of all worlds. In the best of all worlds I wouldn't have this condition that make it harder to focus. In the best of all worlds trying to just tune them out wouldn't result in roaring headaches.

A couple people have mentioned a bell, which would send me further out of my mind than I am now.

posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 5:36 AM on April 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

At a clinic I go to, there's a sign that says something like "If the blue light is on, I'm taking a call" regarding the receptionists' headsets. For you, I'm imagining a completely non-functional lightbulb.
posted by teremala at 6:20 AM on April 13, 2018 [3 favorites]

Also, playing off your supervisor's suggestion: company logo stickers on your headphones?
posted by teremala at 6:50 AM on April 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

> "Supervisor, I'm not going to advertise my disability status on a sign for everyone to see."

This is a good script and good advice. FFS, no, you should not and do not need to explain why you are wearing these headphones, that's preposterous.
posted by desuetude at 7:02 AM on April 13, 2018 [6 favorites]

It might help to think about the experience of the person coming into the office... if you're already facing them, can make eye contact and say "hi," then the headphones are unlikely to be an issue. But if they have to get your attention anyway (headphones or not) because of the layout, your body language, or your lack of response when they enter, the headphones might increase any perception that you're ignoring them. (I'd be worried that I was interrupting you, or that you weren't actually the receptionist.)

Maybe consider the following: if you don't already face toward the door when you're working, that might be helpful; moving your monitor so that you can see the door when you're working on it (and so people coming in can see your face); making sure you're greeting everyone who comes in proactively, so that they don't have to get your attention at all.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:12 AM on April 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

(Just reviewed the first question and you said you do make eye contact and greet the person and remove the headphones, so I'm less sure what scenario he's concerned about, but maybe changing the layout of your desk could be helpful.)
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:13 AM on April 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

Any sign referring to you being allowed to wear the headset is a gross invasion of privacy and I'm really sorry your boss doesn't understand that. Abled people are often incredibly uncomfortable with, awkward about, and embarrassed by even the slightest accommodations, which is what I predict is the source of his "concerns".

The general nature of his concern is somewhat valid, in that you cannot possibly underestimate the ability of people entering an office to be completely and idiotically confounded by everything before them, including large signs saying ONE MOMENT PLEASE or HAVE A SEAT, WE'LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU, etc*. However, you're not actually ignoring anyone, you're being available the moment someone steps into the office, and he literally has nothing to complain about.

*at my old job my desk was unfortunately near the front door and despite having it fully screened off such that to disturb me, guests had to walk behind my desk and tap my shoulder, despite many large signs saying THIS WAY TO RECEPTION with an arrow pointing to the next desk, which had a big sign saying RECEPTIONIST, where our receptionist would be standing, smiling and waving, greeting the guests, literally every single visitor to the office came back around my desk to interrupt me, totally ignoring her, dozens of times a day. i wanted to set myself on fire.
posted by poffin boffin at 8:14 AM on April 13, 2018 [5 favorites]

[Assuming US] You're pretty protected here under the ADA and I wouldn't hesitate to invoke it. If they are really concerned, add a generic sign with no explanation and make sure you're very attentive to people who approach.

But I would recommend drawing the clear line that a disability is not public information.
posted by Miko at 9:06 AM on April 13, 2018 [3 favorites]

When my team (not of receptionists) had to separate "I am listening to music" and "do not disturb", we got these little lights on top of our monitors. We were supposed to turn them red when we didn't want to be interrupted and leave them green otherwise. (They connected via USB and there was an application that changed their color)

So for you, you could have three colors -- available, transcribing, and in a meeting -- and just leave it on available.

But really, this seems like a lot of work if you make eye contact and take the headphones off...!
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:07 AM on April 13, 2018

I do agree with everyone else that the sign will be completely useless, but it sounds like your boss is wanting it, so I think trying to make it as generic, non-privacy-invading, and customer-focused (rather than you-focused) as possible should be the goal. Not because it will be in any way helpful for customers, but just to placate your boss.
posted by lazuli at 10:04 PM on April 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Could you get a sensor on the door that'll chime in your headset or light a light so that by the time the visitor comes thru the door and crosses to your desk, you've removed the headset?
posted by at at 4:13 PM on April 14, 2018 [2 favorites]