I work housekeeping at a retirement home. I work mostly by myself but there's two housekeepers to an apartment. One cleans bathrooms and the other the kitchen. There's little communication between us as we're busy working. I like to wear an earbud and listen to a podcast to help pass the time. I've never had any issues talking to people. I worked a few days ago with a housekeeper and I didn't hear what she said to me the first time as she mumbled. I asked her to repeat herself and she berated me for wearing an earbud and said she wasn't going to deal with it and told me to take it our. I didn't because it causes no issues and she's not my boss. Well I just found out she's my managers sister in law. The very next day I'm in the bathroom and hear my manager and coworker saying that I'm stupid for wearing an earbud and can't just enjoy my time without relying on technology. At the end of the day my manager told me there's an “insurance policy” saying we can't carry our phones with us in case we take inappropriate pictures involving residents and I can't wear earbuds so I can be aware of my surroundings.
I feel like I can't just have something to enjoy to make my job easier. Why do I have to work a shitty job with shitty pay and suffer more and work in total silence for eight hours? Am I making a big deal out of this for not understanding or are my coworkers in the wrong. The whole thing just makes me feel stupid as I'm autistic and don't see what's wrong with it and don't know how to explain it