MP3 Policy

Here in St Louis, we have very strict policies for computer usage and internet usage. We use Websence and port filtering; we block IP'S and URL?s at the router. All employees have to read and take online training on the policies. There are tests after the training. All employees must take the tests and pass with in a given time table.
After they pass they must read and agree to the employment policies and sign out on them. After that they know the computer they use is the companies, the internet they use is watched and logged, and the email they use will be logged for up to seven years and could be monitored at any time.
They also know that they can use free time to use the internet as long as it is to acceptable websites.
We have to stay SOX and HIPPA compliant.
If they do some thing that is wrong, depending on what it was. They could be written up or fired, it would be addressed with them and they would be able to defend them self?s. Through a compliance committee.

I think personally if you haven't got any important work to do, such between projects or you are in a break (lunch, afternoon tea.) Or you are reading your email and there is something short to watch. Yeah I think it is fine, providing it isn't offensive material. Like typical 30 second videos of people playing pranks on others, those types of video clips are okay, but if the Boss or manager can see this is lowering people's productivity then yes then put a stop to watching videos or movie clips at work, (unless it is in your lunch break)
As for MP3s, if a user wants to listen to music while working providing it isn't distracting or disturbing other users (if have to wear headphones) I can't see a problem with that also, but there maybe certain workgroup environments out there that can't afford to have workers listen to music, and this is fair enough.
At the end of the day the manager/boss has to look at these issues to see how MP3 and Videos will affect the business.
1. Productiviy.
2. Disturbing other workers
3. If customers or clients are walking throughout the office seeing people watching videos or hear music being played, will this offend them?
4. Hard Drive space? If they have media stored on the business servers? Maybe streamlining over the network, will this slow the network down interferring with people's working over the network.
5. Will it affect the worker's concentration on his/her own work?

Regards,
Jim

At my company, the only thing I care about is the quantity and quality of the work performed. If I have a top developer who is very productive, he or she can work whatever hours they choose and spend their time in whatever way they feel makes them more creative and productive.

For some people, putting on headphones and listening to music drowns out distractions and allows them to concentrate better on difficult problems.

I like to listem to classical music when I'm working, and I'm most productive late at night. And since I run the technical half of the company, I make the rules!

In a way, you have already answered part of your own question on permission - your Execs say it isn't permitted, so unless you can persuade them otherwise, it isn't permitted.

Enforcement is something else. Perhaps the most extreme example I've come across was a client who operated a thin(ish) client / server architecture. Nothing was stored on the local workstation, all on the file server. And they enforced it by re-imaging the workstations on a rolling monthly basis. A bit Draconian for most companies, I think!

It's a difficult decision, depends on the individual, some people work best in absolute silence, whereas others can't get going in less than 80 db! Personally, provided there is no disturbance to others, I can't see the problem. MP3 players are cheap these days - that's a possible alternative if you really want to keep your PCs "clean".