Re:Productivity! (Score 1)

2002:
I have a co worker whose desk is about ten feet away. From the time she gets in, to the time she leaves, she plays classical music on an alarm clock radio. It's like working in an elevator. And it's distracting, and she shouts over her music. Other people, including executives, have moved to desks further away, because they don't want to infringe on her right to listen to music, thus annoying the mostly 20-somethings in the office with classical music, all the time.

The more computer savvy surf, shop, chat and email people, and listen to streaming audio on occaision. But no one does anything. Some of the less savvy just gather around the coffeemaker and chat or talk on the phone all day. No one is not distracted, including the officers, but everyone takes a break once in a while, even if that while is most of the day.
Everyone understands that their computer is company property, and at anytime, one's supervisor can have access to the computer you use and find any files you downloaded and kept on that PC. Simple. Burn the files and take them home with you, but don't leave them there.

flashback to 1991:
Our receptionist doesn't listen to music, and doesn't know how to surf the web, shop online, chat, play flash games, or download music. She's on the phone 6 hours a day though. She has visitors sometimes, who she gossips with for hours. And she cries, loudly, on the phone, about her problems. She works at a snail's pace and can't be trusted to learn a new task within a month unless she has constant supervision.

Everyone else here gets his or her work done on time, except for the receptionist.

The reason for this, I have surmised, is that almost everyone does their best to get their work done quickly and done well so that they have more time to email, chat, shop, surf and download mp3s.