Office Noise Proven To Increase Business Costs

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.

Published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, a study by Cornell University researchers discovered that even small quantities of office noise led to higher levels of stress, a decline in motivation, and diminished productivity. An increased stress level, as verified by increased amounts of adrenaline in the bloodstream, is thought to contribute to heart disease and other serious health problems. Not only is there lost productivity, but employers may also be required to cover these related health care expenses.

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 This study also proved to have a lot of noise in the new open-office areas where wall offices have been replaced by thin partitions, also the use of electronic devices add to the unpleasant noises.

Mixed environments in today's modern offices are particularly challenging to the modern worker. As an example, take the technical writer, who requires high levels of concentration and focus on the job, who sits in a cubicle not far from a salesman making sales calls. The salesman's calls interrupt the flow of concentration for the technical writer, decreasing his level of efficiency.

Many solutions exist for the serious issue of excessive office noise. Distracted workers usually turn to wearable means of muffling sounds, like ear muffs or plugs, or else desktop white noise gadgets. But by indiscriminately muffling every sound, these devices can also decrease worker productivity. Headphones with active noise canceling technology will alleviate distracting noise but without muffling all the important sounds.

The intelligent business solution to excessive office noise starts with proper office design, adequate sound insulation, or the installation of an effective office sound masking system. The price of such systems has decreased dramatically over the years. With the evidence available and the solutions affordable, the wise employer no longer has an excuse for ignoring the problem of excessive workplace noise.

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