I don’t know how common this is in other industries or part of the world, but in all companies (all software houses) I worked for the development/technology team is always VERY VERY silent. It’s like working in a library or being in a cemetery at an ungodly hour. The only noise you’re likely to hear is the tip-tap of the keyboards, which is also very rare in the programmers’ area, mostly in the testing side of the floor.

Back when I worked with a Philippines-based company, we moved to a spanking-new building in Ortigas where everything was state-of-the-art. Our boss even asked for a “noise reduction” thingy-mabob put in, which I found outrageous because: a) the floor is carpeted and the footfalls very quietly, and b) because no one hardly ever talks during business hours. The only time you’d hear voices reverberate is during lunchtime or when a slightly sociable (ehem) staff is hovering over other cubes to get a buzz. And yes at night when everyone prefers to kill time by playing some network games or watch some DVDs while the whole of Metro Manila are stuck in rush hour traffic.

When I was in India I observed that the “silence” there is much, much severe than in Pinas. Well, actually a lot of things there were, to me, quite severe compared to company policies in Manila. but that’s another topic.

Here in London, “the unwritten golden rule” also applies. I wrote about it this time because I thought this is always the case and I am used to it by now. To be honest sometimes I get annoyed when people want to chat and I’m really up to my neck with work. So it was a big surprise when a developer resigned and one of the issues he raised is he’s not comfortable with the fact that “no one talks”. It was laughable to think you’d leave a company you joined three (3) weeks ago because you don’t like it that everyone’s nose-down-working.

So, is “silence” also the golden rule in other industries? In other countries?