With all this noise, it's hard to concentrate…

Between the phone ringing, a coworker's phone conversation, and the noise from the coffee machine, it's often hard to concentrate.

In fact, more than half of the workforce reports being bothered by noise at work (acrossall socioeconomic and occupational categories^{) (1)}. The March 2020 lockdown heightened this sensitivity to noise among many people who had become accustomed to working alone at home: according to a survey conducted in July 2020, 57% of respondents consider themselves more sensitive to the quality of the sound environment than before the lockdown ⁽²⁾.

"More than half of working adults say they are botheredby noise at work."

Productivity Loss Due to Noise

Among the five noises cited as the most bothersome in open-plan offices ⁽³⁾ are: 

• Conversations that are easy to understand (for example, a phone call from your office neighbor to a client);
• Unintelligible conversations, such as the hubbub caused by your coworkers taking a break outside the office building right under your office window;
• Phone ringtones;
• Noises from people moving around (such as a door slamming or footsteps upstairs);
• Noise from equipment (computers, air conditioning, etc.).

These noises draw attention and create background noise that makes it harder or takes longer to complete a task. It may only be a few seconds of inattention and a few minutes to refocus, but when added up, they lead to a very real drop in productivity! 

"42% of workers say they waste time at work because of noise."

42% of working adults report wasting time because of noise⁽¹⁾. Nationwide, the loss of productivity due to noise in the workplace is estimated at 18 billion euros per year⁽⁴⁾. Many companiesCompanies have recognized this and are not hesitating to invest in this area, while limiting the environments noisy in workspaces and by giving [name] the opportunity to their employees to focus and to produce high-quality work.

What are the effects of noise on employees?

Noise in the workplace can have serious repercussions on employees' behavior, productivity, and even their health.

Indeed, it has been observed that noise can lead to dissatisfaction among employees, both at work and in their personal lives: for 49% of workers, noise is likely to cause fatigue, weariness, and irritability in^daily life⁽⁵⁾. Noise pollution also causes fatigue, loss of concentration, and headaches, and in some cases can even lead to aggression and nervousness.

"For 49% of working adults, noise is likely to cause fatigue, weariness
and irritability (...). ”

A decline in productivity is also evident among the vast majority of workers in noisy environments. In noisy settings, there is a decrease in concentration, a slowdown in task completion, and difficulty understanding speech. In total, 6 million employed workers individually lose at least 120 hours per year of ^{work (6)}.

"6millionworking people in their current jobs loseat least 120 hours per year ”

Everyone's natural instinct to protect themselves is to move away from the noise—by shutting themselves in an office, for example—or to use whatever equipment is available, which, unfortunately, is often unsuitable.

Unfortunately, the isolation of employees leads to a loss of information and a decline in collaboration—the very things that open-plan offices had succeeded in fostering. Not to mention that it is also a risk factor for the development ofmusculoskeletal disorders(MSDs). 

If employees are exposed to intense, prolonged, or regular noise, they may experience health problems that affect their daily lives, such as sleep disorders, hearing problems (tinnitus, hearing loss), and even cardiovascular issues. 

Employees’ health and quality of life at work are essential to the company’s smooth operation, they are naturally aware of this themselves : In an Ifop–JNA survey, 86% of working adults surveyed stated that measures to address noise would improve community life⁽⁷⁾.

"86% of working adults surveyed say that taking action on noise would improve community life."

Noise Problems in the Workplace: What Are the Solutions?

It is often necessary to consult acoustic specialists to understand a company’s needs based on its various activities and the tasks performed by its employees, analyze how noise travels, and redesign the workspace.

Specific equipment can then be installed : acoustic partitions around desks, as well as elements on the walls and ceiling. These helpto acoustically isolate a space and make it quieter and moreprivate. Depending on the model, the partitions can be temporary or permanent, allowing you to create “quiet” zones—for privacy and phone calls , for example—or areas for collaboration and interaction.

Other solutions to acoustic issues:
^Tilde® Air selective noise-canceling earbuds and headphones and ^Tilde® Pro. 

Unlike partitions, thesesolutions are used individually. They help manage ambient noise in open-plan offices using selective noise-canceling technology. These earbuds and headphonesdo not completely blockout noise; rather, they are designed to facilitate face-to-face conversations by reducing background noise without altering the other person’s voice. This makes them an ideal tool for fostering collaboration in shared workspaces. Additionally, the phone mode ensures high-quality phone calls by eliminating ambient noise and voices not part of the call. 

Sources:

⁽¹⁾JNA–Ifop Survey: “Noise, Hearing Health, and Performance,” 2016.

⁽⁽²⁾CidB Survey, 2020.

⁽⁽³⁾ The INRS’s GABO (Acoustic Distress in Open-Plan Offices) questionnaire.

⁽⁴⁾ EY for the CNB and ADEME: “The Social Cost of Noise Pollution in France,” 2016.

⁽⁵⁾JNA-IFOP Survey, 2020.

⁽⁶⁾JNA–Ifop Survey: “Noise, Hearing Health, and Psychosocial Risks,” 2017.

⁽⁷⁾ Ifop–JNA Survey: “Noise Pollution and Our Ears in All This,” 2016.

Illustration credits: ©Azergo 2020

Photo credits: Africa Studio | bnenin | contrastwerkstatt | Gorodenkoff – stock.adobe.com