I have 5 to 6 major concerns here, not just one:
1. Music a bit too loud in common small "work" area. I have avoided cafes for music, but starbucks would have been a better option then because it works out cheaper (half) and I get to have better coffee.
Music choice -> too pop/party, too lyrical, too high pitched singing and high pitched instruments, which also get into your bose ANC head phones (unless you are moving your own volume too up and for 8 hours straight on these risking your ears).
Also people around tend to volume up their talk to talk over the music. Its a vicious circle.
I have to repeatedly tell at the desk to reduce the volume. But it was done quite hesitantly and even now I am not satisfied because some songs are quite loud. I was also asked if I can sit somewhere else, I cited that I have selected my work desk as per other "talking" folks, and also want to be away from the "kitchen/sink/mini pantery" area which has lot of abrupt noises like rattling of vessles, etc.
And of-course you are not asking me to sit in a phone booth for my work. That is not an option.
2. People talking constantly on common work desk, its more of a no-work or no-serious work place.
3. People holding meetings on common work desk.
//we work community manager here falls back on "brand policy" for keeping some music playing, so I countered her regarding the "brand policy" of taking calls on the common work desks.
4. No open area which is not non smoke, so no open area for non smokers to get some sun - and I have even seen people smoking beside the entrance. Also, if you think you can get some sun from the road outside, its a road full of traffic, noise, crowed so that is not a convenient option for me.
5. People take calls from the desk.
If any founder is thinking of building a small team out of a common area a) Forget it, you will be in a mess in both the weworks I have experienced. b) Be respectful towards solo/micro teams.
6. I had also come one day to get some serious work done. , It was a bit empty that day. The staff here near the common work area kitchen was socializing and talking fairly loudly, enough to disregard a "work" arena. It creates obvious abruption in the work.
Why are you being selective and have a preference towards smokers and towards people who want party music and lyrical music on and who want to talk constantly on common work desks and take calls from work desk? - This is not only evident from observing the prevailing condition, but also from the stance that your community personnel maintains quite comfortably on inquiries, observations or requests regarding these issues.
What is your "technical policy"?
