New Study Examines Effects Of Noise And Sound In The Workplace

The Danish brand Jabra is best known to consumers for its wireless ear buds, but the company’s bread and butter is in business-related tech, such as professional headsets, speakerphones, and video conferencing equipment. Earlier this year, Jabra sponsored a study on how sound and noise affect the wellbeing and performance of office workers. A corporate-sponsored study should always be taken with a grain of salt, and I have no doubt that Jabra would be happy to sell noise-cancelling headphones to every office employee on Earth, but the findings are interesting nevertheless. Jabra commissioned Team Lewis Research to survey 2,000 workers in France, Germany, the UK, and the USA. According to the study, noise and audio quality both play significant roles in determining the cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing of people in the workplace. Most of the respondents for whom data is available are UK-based, but the results were likely similar across all countries where surveys were taken.

As more and more workers return to offices after the life-changing disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, improving the working conditions of these offices has become increasingly important to many. Over 90% of workers said that being able to focus on work and maintaining good mental health are just as important as getting work done. Meanwhile, 71% said that working in a loud environment makes them mentally tired, and 60% said that it actually makes them feel physically tired. When asked to list the top stress factors at work, the inability to focus due to noise was the third-most-common complaint. Nearly 60% of workers said that it is hard for them to feel passionate about their work in a noisy environment. More than half of UK respondents said that they are stressed by noise, with 47% saying that it is difficult to be productive when colleagues take calls at their desks in an open office environment. About 53% of UK workers said that they are expected to take calls or online meetings away from their desks for this reason.

The audio quality on these calls is also significant. According to the study, 54% of workers said that poor audio quality during conference calls negatively impacts their performance and wellbeing at work. Meanwhile, 72% said that it is easier for them to focus on tasks and projects when calls have clear and high-quality sound. The study also found that workers believe that higher-quality audio in meetings can affect their interpersonal skills in a work setting, thanks to clearer communication (46%) and improved collaboration (44%).

The way of work is constantly evolving, and with the return to the office, UK workers are struggling with the ability to focus in the workplace. Sound type, intensity, and individual sensitivity play significant roles in how we function at work and have a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing, and productivity and performance. UK leaders need to invest in creating an inclusive and neurodiverse workplace, combined with high-quality technology to ensure workers can bring their true and best selves to work and thrive professionally and mentally.

— Nigel Dunn, vice president Northern Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Jabra

Because noise seems to have a negative impact on overall mental health and wellbeing, many workers believe that employers should be responsible for addressing the issue in a number of ways. About 37% said that noise-cancelling headphones should be provided as part of standard office equipment, while another 37% said employees should be allowed to work from home more often. (As someone who works from home in a busy household, I can assure you that this is not necessarily a solution for everyone.) About 32% said that offices should have designated areas for different types of activities, including quiet zones. About 36% of respondents said they have the option to go to a private room to avoid noise. One out of every ten workers admitted to retreating to the bathroom just to escape noise. Others turn to technology, like noise-cancelling headphones to mitigate the noise (31%) or music to drown it out (27%). Is noise an issue in your workplace? What do you do to escape the cacophony? Share your thoughts in the related forum thread below.