Co workers playing Christian hymn songs nonstop

[rainbow4321]

Sitting here at work (night shift worker) and because we have a really small cramped workroom I'm having to listen to a co worker's non stop hymns playing on what I guess is Pandora.
As a Unitarian Universalist I respect everyones religious choices...but I kinda impatient when those around me just assume that others want to be submerged theirreligious based music for hours on end.
How does one approach an issue like this without hurting their co workers feelings? Out of the 4 or 5 of us that work together each night, I'm the only one who doesn't either play the hymns and/or sing waaay off tune to those same songs as they play.
I'm usually against the whole wearing earbuds while at work (not really cool thing to do in the health care field at all) but at this point, it looks like it's the only way to keep my sanity to listen to regular music to block out their religious music.
If I wanted to hear several hours of hymns I'd be at church. Then there is the other part of it, this is a federal facility. So much for separation of church and government. Clearly the mandatory diversity classes employees had to go to recently didn't help people. All I heard about afterwords was the Christian workers being offended that they could no longer refer to or use the words "I will pray for you" or other religious references with the patients and that per hospital policy the "correct" response should be a chaplain referral for the patient so the chaplain can address a patient's spiritual needs.
Sorry about typos or crappy spacing of words, doing this via my phone to avoid using work computer and spying eyes!

[badtoworse]

1. Go to HR and complain about the work environment

[rurallib]

4. ditto - HR should not say who lodged the complaint

that is more than I could deal with.

[Fumesucker]

5. Excellent chance HR is loaded with the same type of Christians

Could well backfire on the OP..

[el_bryanto]

17. Don't make it about the hymns - make it about the distraction and noise

"I'm trying to concentrate and I can't because of the music"

That may not work if the OP has had other music (this is why I am pro Earbuds, but I don't work in an area open to the public).

Bryant

[Sheldon Cooper]

23. Exactly.

Make it about noise in general. I would find this work environment tortureous, and not because of the genre of the music. I don't like to work with ANY music, I find it way too distracting. If HR would agree that there be no music, or that earbuds must be used by anyone wishing to listen to music, that should satisfy everyone.

[Dash87]

24. Shouldn't she just ask the person to turn the music lower

instead? Seems like a better method than tattling to HR and possibly getting someone in trouble for something they may not be aware of. Maybe suggest they use earphones.

[badtoworse]

25. I have to believe she's already done that.

If not, she should, but that may be difficult. Evidently, listening to the hymns is a group thing and she would have to confront all of them.

[Ilsa]

2. Ask for "Quiet". You shouldn't have to

listen to a group's choice of music all night. Or ask that the choice of music be shifted each night to a different person.

[OriginalGeek]

36. Once we got to my night

I bet the policy would change to "no music"

[SoCalDem]

3. Ask your HR rep to issue a memo reminding people that music is not

to be "specific"..especially religious in nature.. That should do it. If they think you "ratted" them out, so be it.

[Tien1985]

7. I think this is the best

Course of action. It doesn't try to ban anything and it offers a solution.

[Victor_c3]

6. I had a coworker who used to like to listen to crappy fiddle music all the time

So I found my own annoying crappy music to blast all day.

That didn't work out so well. It just turned into a war that just annoyed me and everyone else I worked with more.

Unfortunately, talking to your boss or HR is probably the best bet.

[Ikonoklast]

8. Document, document, document.

Times, people present, dates.

In writing, each event.

HR needs to understand that other employees work productivity is suffering due to the environment.

No one should be forced to listen to anyone else's crappy choice in music, or be forced to listen to any radio at all while at work.

The other employee can wear ear buds.

[Katashi_itto]

11. +1000

[FBaggins]

16. You assume that the employer doesn't already know and allow it.

Having to listen to music you don't like isn't actionable in all cases. The poster may have to decide whether or not it's upsetting enough to give up his job over.

[Ikonoklast]

43. Document that, too.

It is up to the employer to then prove they do not foster a hostile work environment.

[patricia92243]

9. In a pleasant voice say to him "Could you please turn the volume down a bit."

No explanation needed.

If all employees music is too loud, you probably should go to HR.

Good luck. Keep us posted how it goes.

[lunatica]

10. Don't knock ear buds. They save my life daily

The workplace can make you nuts. If it isn't ambient noise, it's listening to someone else's choice of music or having to listen to endless chatter droning on and on or to those people who talk to their computers loud enough that you think they're talking to you. There are people who think they must talk at all times and as loud as they can because what they say is so fascinating to everyone else.

When I listen to the music I like with the ear buds I can literally feel the capillaries in my brain and body relax and the blood flow much better. I can work better too. And I can relax and my productivity goes up.

What you're putting up with would have made me crazy a long time ago.

[hobbit709]

12. Play Sympathy For The Devil in response. Or The Door's Soft Parade.

The problem with these people is that they think that religious freedom means they can impose their beliefs on you but any attempt to stop them is restricting their freedom.

[hatrack]

15. I'd suggest "Forward To Death" or "Too Drunk To Fuck" by the Dead Kennedys

Just an idea . . .

[sigmasix]

18. or the feederz' "Jesus entering from the rear" NT

[WinkyDink]

21. I'm partial to Sousa marches, myself.

[hobbit709]

22. Or "Give Me an F"

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

33. Do you think 'Hold the Heathen Hammer High' by Tyr would be good?

The cutting down of a cross in the video might be a problem but surely the coworkers would be willing to forgive that little bit...then again probably not.

[reformist2]

13. I would think music is something everyone needs to agree on, not simply a 'majority'.

As others have posted, if it affects your work environment negatively, it's something you have every right to take up with HR.

[Capt. Obvious]

14. You're just jealous

that his god is an awesome god.

He reigns from heaven above.

[avebury]

19. Earbuds can be a life saver

in a work environment. Sometimes I don't even have my Ipod turned on.

[shireen]

20. start playing your own music

Like heavy metal.

Soon there will be a new policy about playing music out loud.

[reflection]

26. Even though you don't want to

you may have to go earbuds. If you are asked why, just be honest. Or you could bring it up politely and if they take offense, then they take offense. I understand where you're coming from though. No one wants to be "that guy."

[winterpark]

27. I say play podcasts of Stephanie Miller, Cenk, Ed Shultz, Bill Press and David Sirota. Let

em get a little progressive knowledge by 'osmosis'. Turnabout is fair play after all. If you have to listen to their shit, then they have to listen to yours.

Peace

[Coyotl]

28. Tell them you are offended by their music

Say it like it is or put up with it. Either you have the courage to tell the truth or you suffer for your lack of it.

[LuvNewcastle]

38. That's the best way to handle it.

Tell them to cut out all the racket. Tell them it's driving you crazy. If they want to be assholes and keep it up, complain about it to the boss. Just because the majority is doing it doesn't make it right. It's best to deal with them directly at first instead of immediately going to the boss.

[Marrah_G]

29. Oh that would drive me nuts.

[lunasun]

30. earbuds if hasseled you can mention religion was being forced on you in the federal workplace-....

if you are the only one not singing along they already know that and are most likely 'preying' for you

[RC]

31. It is a federal facility and work place?

Start here. You can do searches for what you are looking for.
Home page: http://www.eeoc.gov/

http://www.eeoc.gov/search/search?q=religion+work+place&btnG=Search&entqr=0&ud=1&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&output=xml_no_dtd&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&client=default_frontend&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&site=FullSite


The EEOC is responsible for protecting you against one type of discrimination - discrimination that occurs while you are at work because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability or age (age 40 or older).


They are imposing their religious beliefs on you. Doesn't matter if you are an atheist or not. It wouldn't hurt to contact the EEOC and find out your rights. Religion in a Federal work place is a no-no.

[sorefeet]

32. Federal facility

no radio. Causes fights. Someone might get a radio shoved up their ass.

[SwissTony]

34. Play this...LOUD!!!!!!

[snooper2]

35. DMX would probably solve this for you in one evening, be sure to crank it LOL

and be sure to only play uncensored

[randome]

37. When I worked for Social Security, a small group of coworkers held a prayer session each morning.

A new manager and new assistant put a stop to that when they came in.

If you're in a federal facility and don't want to antagonize your coworkers, there should be official avenues for you to pursue.

[bike man]

39. File a complaint to HR about unwanted music and being on a

political forum during working hours.

[bhikkhu]

40. My sympathies - coworkers made me hate religion at one time

...by endlessly playing christian pop, or whatever they call it. I like every sort of music, but something about the idea of being slowly brainwashed by background noise just sets my teeth on edge. The more I had to listen to it, the more they seemed like mindless pod-people.

It made work miserable, and I was so glad to leave that job!

[Blue Owl]

41. Ask if they can play "Oh Lord, Thou Art Not Made Up"

n/t

[Zorra]

42. Approach them nicely and tell them honestly and directly how you feel. nt

[PD Turk]

44. Here ya go

Crank it up!!