White Noise Can Help Improve Office Productivity

Although the white-collar labor force has grown much in recent years, actual productivity has been declining. Some have observed that the problem lies in the increasing worker density of office buildings. There are simply more people being employed per square foot of office space. As such, declining productivity is a consequence of worker interruptions and overcrowding. Such interruptions usually originate from noise. Some of it is generated from employee conversations, and some can be generated by office equipment such as the ringing of telephones and mobiles. Simply put, the office density which results from employees sharing small spaces also produces greater noise density. In effect, there is a tipping point in which a larger work force means less productivity from the space shared, rather than more.

One way to stave off the disruptions generated by office noise is to utilize white noise; a form of noise that has more to do with wavelengths than with the color white itself. It is a combination of multiple sound frequencies emitted across one stream, similar to how white light is the light which results from the absorption of multiple light frequencies.

Due to these properties, white noise can mask most noise interruptions around it when broadcast loudly enough, simply because it can absorb these noises into its own mix of frequencies. It can effectively combat the various forms of noise pollution which exist in the office today such as street traffic, ringing telephones, idle chit chat and humming workstations and can alleviate serious emotional and physical stress from such noise.

In recent decades, there has been surge of popularity in white noise machines, which have proven to be very useful within the office environment. They provide a calm and soothing respite from the noise pollution which pervades many an office space and have proven to help increase productivity. They are also used out of the office to help people sleep at night without interruption.

In truth, it is actually not desirable to replicate true white noise, which exists as a flat spectrum and is quite annoying. However, it's the most common term used, and most white noise systems simulate its properties by using similar audio forms that include the natural sounds of birds chirping or a running waterfall and man-made sounds such as radio static and distant trains. As such, there are abroad range of machines that can be chosen to suit your 'tastes' in white noise and help alleviate stress from noise pollution.

- Frank Barnett