Goozleology

Think about a stressful workday, when you need to submit a vital sales report and tally important survey data. You might come in to work a few hours early, in order to put in more time on these tasks. Now, picture yourself trying to compile that data next to a coworker, who can’t stop talking about a strange blind date that she just had. It’s difficult for you to concentrate in an environment like that, right?

No matter where it originates, office noise is detrimental. For one thing, it interferes with employee productivity. In addition, office noise may trigger stress in employees, possibly even snowballing into more debilitating illnesses, including depression.

Having said that, though, a majority of employees have to deal with office noise sooner or later. Often, this noise presents itself in the form of chattering colleagues, who are discussing almost everything except work related issues. If you’re in this situation, and you’d like to extract yourself from it, the best approach is to be sympathetic but direct, and to inform them that their discussions are distracting you from your job. Often, your colleagues will apologize and relocate their conversation.

If you are experiencing disruptive noise due to a printer or facsimile machine located near your desk, you might politely request that your information technology colleagues look into the origin of the sound. It is probably the result of a malfunction, since the majority of office equipment firms manufacture noise-free machines at great expense to themselves. If the offending devices are properly and regularly serviced, that will usually eliminate the sound entirely or at very least lower the noise level.

Lots of offices are plagued with noises that come from the coffee machine. While the machine is there to provide convenient drinks, it can also provide high levels of background noise, which can distract a person from performing assigned tasks. If this is the case in your office, consider bringing the issue up with a supervisor or a colleague.

A noisy office does no good, regardless of the source of the noise. As such, there are many low-cost noise control methods for most offices. Sound absorbent panels and higher cubicle walls can help cut down on how far office noise - whether from human or mechanical sources - spreads. The huddle rooms and cafeteria are located at corners, away from the place where workers sit. And one of the most effective solutions is to cover the noise with comfortable, low-level noise, often referred to as “white noise” or “sound masking.” This is best done in the initial design phase, but newer systems are easily able to be retrofitted into most office spaces. The key, of course, is to do something to control the noise in your workspace.

No matter where it originates, office noise is detrimental. It interferes with productivity and may trigger stress in employees, possibly even snowballing into more debilitating illnesses, including depression. It is difficult to work in a noisy office, no matter how the noise originates. Yet there are numerous inexpensive noise reduction systems available which fall under the heading of “sound masking.” The most appropriate time to think about the use of this technique is during the office design, but modern systems can be retrofitted into most work areas with relative ease. The bottom line, though, is to take at least some kind of action to reduce noise in the office.

- Frank Barnett

For more great content, remember to subscribe to my RSS feed. Subscribe

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!