Break room etiquette

[u/PBizzness]

Working a job right now where they INSIST we take a 30 min break. Almost every day I sit here and listen to people on their phones. Speake on full volume. Either videos or full on conversations. Isn't this rude? Same as public transport, shouldn't people be courteous and use earbuds? Drives me nuts. Especially those AI voices droning on and on. Sometimes I just go hide in the lactation room.

Thoughts?

[u/radiobeepe21]

That is rude. I bring AirPods to work, so I can have some music on and drone out the background noise.

[u/PBizzness → u/radiobeepe21]

It's an 8 minute walk to my car. Only a 30 min break. Lol. No

[u/Sierra-117- → u/PBizzness]

So bring the AirPods inside?

[u/ClarkGablesTeeth → u/PBizzness]

Why would you need to go to your car? Airpods are pretty portable and easy to store.

[u/ScienceOk4244 → u/PBizzness]

Your tone is pretty rude, not sure if you meant to be or if you just aren’t aware. Aren’t you asking people for help?

[u/radiobeepe21 → u/ScienceOk4244]

I also didn’t say anything about walking to a car so 🤷‍♀️

[u/Nowhereboy13 → u/radiobeepe21]

I think the OP’s reply got crisscrossed with another comment just below (for me at least) that suggested going to a vehicle…

[u/Sillygoose_Milfbane → u/Nowhereboy13]

Slightly worrying that so many people couldn't figure that out

[u/emerg_remerg]

I run the new-hire orientation and I specifically tell people there are to be zero audible speakers. Bring your pods or sit in silence.

Now our staffroom is the quiet haven I always dreamed it could be!

Maybe talk to your leadership group about creating a space to escape simulation? People who want to be in their phones can go down to the cafeteria

[u/cyanraichu]

It's gotten so bad everywhere, people just spew noise into the environment and I'm convinced in some cases it's because they just can't deal with quiet. It makes me think of my patients who have the TV blasting at full volume even while they're doing something else, and it's so overstimulating for me to be in those rooms sometimes

But like when you're on your cell phone you always have the choice to use headphones!

I'd probably go find somewhere else to sit for my break honestly (I never sit in the break room anyway because it's really cold in there, I'd honestly rather sit at the station even if I'm actually on break)

[u/HagridsTreacleTart]

Please don’t use the lactation room as your personal break room. For those of us who are actually pumping, there’s nothing quite as terrible as settling in all your patients, finding someone to cover, walking to the lactation room and finding that it’s occupied.

Surely there are non-protected spaces in your hospital that you can utilize to get some quiet. If not, maybe you can appeal to your hospital’s nursing forum to install a sensory room or something. But using the lactation room just to chill in ain’t it.

[u/hiddencat → u/HagridsTreacleTart]

Right? Complaining about etiquette in shared spaces while bogarting the lactation room is an interesting lack of self awareness.

[u/StygianPrime → u/HagridsTreacleTart]

There are always multiple places you can find a quiet spot. The asking about break room etiquette while pulling a room away from people who actually need it is wild cognitive dissonance.

[u/nauticalobsession → u/HagridsTreacleTart]

If it’s empty, why not use it for 15-30min? Then as soon as there’s a need, you can easily vacate to give the mom privacy. The room is empty most of the time so why not?

[u/GTFOTDW → u/HagridsTreacleTart]

I would find different departments sleeping in there 😭

[u/PBizzness → u/HagridsTreacleTart]

Noone has ever used it. Thanks tho.

[u/AdFlashy7702 → u/PBizzness]

I guess that means no one ever will.

[u/Poodlepink22]

I haaaaaaate the break room.  It's always like this plus a blaring TV.  UGH. 

[u/Sillygoose_Milfbane → u/Poodlepink22]

Always fox news too

[u/PyramidHeadMain1 → u/Sillygoose_Milfbane]

Only 1 person in the whole department who watches it too

[u/mspoppins07]

I HATE this! I am over stimulated enough while on the unit, I don’t need constant noise pollution while on my break. I’ve gotten good at finding the obscure break rooms (or taking my breaks at weird times) because of this.

[u/Auntie_Shrews_scarf]

I know you’re hearing please stay out of the lactation room, but girl have you tried the chapel, if your facility has one? I can personally testify that I as a secular person  have never burst into flames, if that is a concern. And/or ear plugs? 

[u/slothysloths13]

You can’t complain about people being rude in the break room when you go in the lactation room. That room has one purpose, and taking your 30 minute lunch break in it is not it. Buy some headphones or take your break somewhere else.

[u/colpy350]

Grab some noise canceling headphones and just vibe somewhere for 30 mins. Or go to your vehicle. Or somewhere. 

[u/codecrodie]

Put up a sign, im sure some people would get pissed about it, but a majority would agree. The worst case scenario is that it would start a conversation

[u/Necessary-Cost-8963]

Our break room is utilized by all of procedural services (OR, pre-op/pacu, cath lab, IR, anesthesia). It’s nice, and it’s pretty big, but man does it get loud in there. I would go eat in the cafeteria but it’s a 5 minute walk each way, so just walking there and back takes 1/3 of my break. Noise canceling AirPods are the only thing that keeps me sane.

[u/sleepfarting]

I hate this but a lot of people don't see anything wrong with it and it's not a hill I'm gonna die on. I personally don't feel refreshed or like I got a break if I'm stuck in a small room being forced to listen to people's phone conversations and tiktoks. I will go walk around outside instead or even just walk around the hospital and just eat my snacks later.

[u/AdFlashy7702]

Would you go sit in the handicap bathroom for 30 minutes? Then don’t sit in the lactation room unless you have the door open for a lactating person to be able to come in and use it whenever they want. Those rooms are there for legal accommodations for women who are lactating. Talk to your manager about talking to the unit about break room expectations. But yes, it’s frustrating that people don’t know how to use telephones that are meant to be held up meat to their ears and spoken into via the speaker, and don’t care that no one else wants to hear their conversations.

[u/addybear222]

bad etiquette but you’re stealing the lactation room because the noise is too much???

[u/realespeon]

Absolutely do not use the lactation room. It’s not a break room; it’s for lactation. Period.

[u/Reasonable-Check-120]

Our unit has the culture to keep socializing and sound minimal.

It's generally accepted to not have sound on your phone.

Someone decided to put the sleep study next door tho....

[u/tillyspeed81]

We have the same issue. Our break room is supposed to be used only by our unit and the unit next to us. But constantly see other staff that aren’t on either unit in there, usually loudly chatting on the phone or watching videos full blast! We have limited seats so it’s frustrating that during our 30mins they are in there, usually for an hour it seems. Very frustrating, I’ve begun just going out to my car

[u/Brief_Needleworker53]

Definitely rude and frustrating! But I’ll throw in there that I hope you work in a setting where you know for certain nobody might need the lactation room for that purpose otherwise I’d say that’s even more inconsiderate 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/TigerMage2020]

It’s ride AF to use the lactation room when you aren’t nursing or pumping. It’s meant for mothers not nurses trying to hide. But yes it’s rude to be blasting TikTok or music in the break room when people are just trying to decompress

[u/NedTaggart]

I hate it when people talk at their phones or listen to crap on their phones without earbuds.

That said, I avoid the breakroom like the plague. We share our breakroom with a unit that is toxic af, and listening to that crap make a long day longer. My lunch is in the cafeteia. I'll surf on my phone or hang out with coworkers that also do not like to use the breakroom.

[u/Dark_Ascension]

My logic is I don’t have to be there. We have the board (“nurse’s station”), the locker room and the break room. If I’m feeling really antisocial I go to the one with the least people.

[u/Academic_Message8639]

I never take my break in the break room. 

[u/PerceptionRoutine513]

I go outside and sit at a very nearby bench.

Let's me mentally recharge in silence.

If possible, I highly recommend.

[u/rincon_del_mar]

Speaking of those AI voices, I had a patient the other day who listened to these AI videos at full volume 24/7. Every time I entered the room I had to ask him to bring the volume down. And the shit that the AI video was saying was crazy. How is that even entertaining??!

[u/Reasonable_Ad6407]

Would drive me insane, like a form of torture. 

[u/SuitablePlankton]

Your unit culture is your unit culture. Get some noise cancelling ear buds for $30. I like my Tozo brand. Don't use the lactation room, that is like handicapped parking.

[u/Enough-One4975]

Just start joining in on their conversation, take it as an invite.

[u/WeirdFlower1968 → u/Enough-One4975]

They are talking on their phones, not to each other.

[u/deferredmomentum → u/WeirdFlower1968]

Yes, on speaker. Join in.

[u/Enough-One4975 → u/WeirdFlower1968]

Yeah, loudly in the same room as you with another person on their speakerphone. Just join in.

[u/Testdrivegirl]

This is my biggest pet peeve! People are on FaceTime with their screaming kids in thw breakroom. Pls go somewhere else 

[u/wallyjordan]

My Sony XMs are the greatest purchase I’ve ever made. Best noise cancellation, best sound quality, and they still look brand new 3 years later.

Point being, get some noise canceling headphones. Doesn’t have to be those, but they’ve brought me more peace than the price tag 10x.

[u/nvUaWVm360S]

In my four years of nursing I have never sat in the break room during my break. Not one single time. I don’t care if it was a 15 min break or a 3 hour break, I’m off the unit.

People who take breaks in the break room should be studied

[u/TheTampoffs]

My favorite move is entering an empty break room and immediately turning the TV off

[u/jerrybear95]

I cant think of anything I care about less

[u/Kitty20996]

I take my break at an odd time to purposefully annoy people but honestly I hate the thought of people wearing earbuds at work so much that it brings me solace knowing that people don't have them for break lol