It is okay to use speakerphone when multiple people need to be involved in the same conversation, and you're not in an office where they can simply all be conferenced in on their own handsets.
It's not okay to:
1. Keep trying a number that's busy
2. Use it just because you're too lazy to actually reach down and pick up the phone
3. Pretend that the dialing sound is like music, and everyone will be happier if they can hear it
4. Share a fabulous "your call is very important to us..." on-hold message with the entire office
This is what triggers workplace violence; I just don't want to be the guy who illustrates the point.
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9 comments:
Ahhhh, but you forget it is as effective as a heat seeking missile in a cubicle war.
Yeah, that would be great, if we had cubicles. Can you say "open space"?
eeesh
Yeah. I think my headphones have saved my life.
I had to do that once- unfortunately in that marvelously fun design firm. Somehow I managed. But my ideal office is one with a door. The day I get one of those, not sharing it with anybody - is the day I know I've arrived. Give it to me.
Oh speakerphones... don't even get me started. As someone who speaks quietly as it is, speaker phone based conversations tend, invariably, to go something along these lines...
Me: oh, hey, nice to get a hold of you, so I was hoping...
Other person: what? what was that?
Me: Oh, um, I was just saying that its nice to finally ....
Other person: I'm sorry, its the speakerphone, I can't hear you... one more time
Me: IT IS REALLY NICE TO TALK TO YOU
Other person: yeah, you too, so... what were you saying before?
The thing is... I see the value of speakerphones when you have three guys sitting in a room for a meeting, and you are trying to include a fourth. That's cool. I also understand using it when you are on hold with a telephone company, and don't expect to be dealt with for 15 - 20 minutes... so using the speaker lets you continue doing what you were doing (provided you are not in an open office space. Darryl, I am so sorry about that. That should be like, office etiquette 101). But when people use the speakerphone because they also want to be checking out hockey scores online while they are talking to you, or are making a sandwich... grrr. just not appreciated in my books.
Anyhow.... glad to know I am not alone in my speakerphone etiquette frustrations or lack thereof.
Yours,
Robyn
Making a sandwich... oh, man, that's two wrongs, not making a right. I mean, if you want to talk to me, let's talk. If you want to do the dishes/cook supper/eat supper (especially!) then call me later...
I really only use speakerphone when I am going to be on hold for a really long time, so I turn the music way down. Of course when the "All of our operators are currently busy" voice chimes in every 30 seconds it is way louder that the music and makes me jump out of my chair.
There are guys in my office who check their voice mail on speakerphone. What's up with that?
that's the irony, no? people only use it when it's gonna be a long, long wait
(nasty habit indeed)
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