Office Noise Solutions For Intelligent Employers

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Recent research provides business owners sufficient justification for investing in systems designed to diminish office noise and corroborates the widespread experience of office workers far and wide. Anyone ever employed in a busy office knows the capacity to which office noise and conversational distractions lead to wasted time, reduced productivity, higher stress levels, and an increase the frequency of unnecessary mistakes.

According to a recent study conducted by Cornell University researchers and published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, even low levels of office noise caused an increase in stress levels, a decrease in motivation and a decrease in productivity. Researchers speculate that these increases in stress levels, as indicated by increases of adrenaline in the bloodstream, could, over time, contribute to more serious health problems, like heart disease. Aside from the cost to the employer due to the decrease in productivity, there could be an additional burden because of the health care costs related to this issue.

The American Society of Interior Designers did a study which demonstrated that the employee work went down and the noise levels went up in the surrounding areas. This study also proved to have a lot of noise in the new open-office areas where wall offices have been replaced by thin partitions, also the use of electronic devices add to the unpleasant noises.

Offices in mixed areas sometimes create one of several problems for the modern office worker. For instance, there may be a person in a near by partition which may be using the phone this can cause problems for a technical writer, who needs complete concentration, from working at his/her best work ability in a particular time frame.

There are many solutions available to the serious problem of excessive office noise. Distracted employees often turn to wearable methods of muffling sound, such as ear plugs or ear muffs, or desktop white noise machines. However, by indiscriminately muffling all sounds, such devices also serve to decrease employee productivity. Headphones with active noise canceling technology can decrease distracting noises without muffling important sounds.

The smart solution for reducing office noise levels begins with the design of the office, along with proper sound insulation, or a sound masking system. The last few years have seen prices of these sound masking systems dropping drastically. With the amount of information available in today’s market and the amount of affordable solutions, today’s intelligent employer has no more excuses for not taking care of problems with excessive workplace noise levels.

Research conducted with well known office workers provided more than enough reason for purchasing systems which can cut down office noise. There is also a study conducted by the American Society of Interior Designers that shows that productivity levels drop commensurate with increasing levels of white noise. Mixed office environments pose particular problems for the modern office worker. Excessive noise is a serious problem with many available solutions. Conversational distractions can be diminished without muffling important sounds by using headphones with active noise canceling technology. The smart solution for reducing noise levels begins with the design of the office, along with proper sound insulation.

- Frank Barnett

Entry Filed under: General