Photo credit: Christina Morillo
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
The Facilities Management Journal website, published out of the United Kingdom, reports that noise is a major deterrent for those returning to in-office work after working from home for a few years during and after the COVID pandemic.
A survey of 2,000 business professionals done by an acoustics consulting firm found that poor acoustic design affected employee satisfaction and productivity. The results of the survey are pretty remarkable. One third of those surveyed shifted work hours to find quieter times, 36% prefer to work from home to escape office noise, 26% moved their desks at work and 47% struggle to concentrate. About one third feel irritated and another third report stress. One in 14 say they have suffered hearing damage from noise exposure at work.
Unwanted noise is stressful. Common sense would make one think that there’s no question that noise also interferes with task performance, although published research shows varying results about this topic. Some studies say it does, some that it doesn’t. Despite the uncertainty in scientific literature, stress at work can’t be good. As the managing director of the acoustics consulting company said, “Investing in sound management [in the office] isn’t just a matter of employee well-being — it’s a strategic priority for business success.”
The shift to open offices filled with cubicles means that most workers can’t close the door, because there isn’t one. However, sound-absorbing surfaces and other acoustical treatments can reduce office noise. That will probably reduce worker stress, increase worker satisfaction and may even increase work quality and employee productivity.
Quieter workplaces, as part of a quieter world, will help make a better and healthier world for all.
